RenaultSport teams looking for strong performance in Malaysia
A number of the Formula One (F1) teams powered by RenaultSport's RS27 engine have revealed they are confident of an improved performance this weekend.
This year sees four teams - Red Bull, Caterham, Lotus and Williams - powered by the engine and each started the season off with mixed fortunes in Australia last week.
However, they will all be given a chance to improve quickly as the season heads to Malaysia this weekend.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner offered his congratulations to McLaren, who saw Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton finish either side of second-placed Red Bull driver Sebastien Vettel, and said judging conditions in Malaysia will be vital.
"We've worked through a programme today. Obviously with the limitation in testing there is, both drivers have worked through different programmes, had a look at the two tyre compounds and tried to do our preparation for the race on Sunday," he said.
"All the forecasts say it's going to be dry for the rest of the weekend. Occasionally you look up and you think there's a big thundershower coming."
Caterham's Riad Asmat accepted that the team's start to the season was a little disappointing and revealed that early problems have been overcome to give the drivers the best chance going into the weekend.
"We found reasons why we were disappointed in Melbourne but obviously that's been sorted. We’re prepared for tomorrow and we’ll see where we go from there. We always try, because my head is on the block," he said.
Lotus representative Gerard Lopez was keen to put rumours about new driver Kimi Raikkonen to bed in order to allow the Finn to concentrate on his driving.
Claims have been made that the driver's last-minute change of heart - to join Lotus over Williams - was financially motivated.
However, when asked whether the Finn had asked for or been granted a share in the team, Lopez responded: "No he didn't and no he doesn't".
"He's a driver, and that's it, so you pay him as a driver. You don't make him a co-owner of the team, that's kind of an odd way of dealing with drivers. It would be for us in any case," he added.
Posted by Craig Salter