MARCH 20, 2004

Renault to give Alonso a new engine

The Renault team will be fitting a new engine in Fernando Alonso's car the Malaysian GP.

"This will bring us no performance advantage," said Pat Symonds, "but it is of course better to use a low mileage engine: our reliability thus far has been impeccable, and this should further improve the likelihood of our finishing the race. Of course, doing this also opens up other strategic options, which are currently under consideration. One of the variables introduced by the rules which oblige us to qualify with the fuel we will use for our first stint, is that the length of that stint actually has as much to do with qualifying well as your race strategy: good grid position is paramount at every circuit we visit. Tomorrow, I do not necessarily think that the timing of the first stop will make it clear exactly who is doing what in terms of strategy..."