After Renault’s excellent third-place finish in the constructors’ championship this year, team boss Flavio Briatore has said that his team will be aiming to trounce Ferrari in next season’s fight.
After Renault’s excellent third-place finish in the constructors” championship this year, team boss Flavio Briatore has said that his team will be aiming to trounce Ferrari in next season’s fight.
Although Renault is pleased with the consistent performances of the past two seasons, Briatore said he was aiming for even better results in 2005.
“Our goal was to finish in the top three,” the Renault boss said in an interview. “With our new engine structure, our priority was finishing races rather than winning.”
“We’re taking it one step at a time – two years ago, our target was becoming one of the four big teams. This season, we wanted to be in the top three. Next year we’ll contend for the title.”
With Ferrari’s dominance showing no signs of diminishing, BAR’s second placing in the constructor’s championship, and Williams and McLaren vowing to a return to top form in 2005, Renault’s battle will not be an easy one.
However, Giancarlo Fisichella returns to the team in 2005, after his replacement Jarno Trulli was unceremoniously booted out towards the end of 2004. Briatore insists that the disagreement with “Fisi” in 2001 was purely financial, and that the Italian is highly regarded by team personnel. He and team-mate Fernando Alonso will have much to do to achieve Renault’s 2005 goal.
