Bell: Renault need `tidal wave of change`

Renault technical director Bob Bell thinks the R28 needs a `tidal wave of change` if the team are to challenge the top three teams later this year.

The former world champions have had a fairly disappointing start to the season, with Fernando Alonso having been unable to finish near the front in the first three races of the year.

But with the team setting their sights on a step forward in pace at the Spanish Grand Prix thanks to a package of aerodynamic and mechanical improvements, Bell is not shying away from the scale of development his team need to introduce.

“I think `we need to improve` is a bit of an understatement,” Bell told the Renault F1`s team official podcast. “It needs a tidal wave of change to move us back, but that is what we are here to do.

“Clearly our biggest deficit is in the aerodynamics of the car, but there are mechanical domain improvements that we can make.”

As well as upgraded aerodynamics, Renault are also believed to be introducing a J-damper-type system for Barcelona - which rivals McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull and BMW Sauber are already understood to be running.

Bell has also said that some effort is being made on a restructuring of the technical department, with the team having already confirmed that head of aerodynamics Dirk de Beer is taking over from Dino Toso as director of aerodynamic technology.

“(We) are not only improving the design of the car, but also improving the way the organisation and structure is managed in the aerodynamics domain to make sure we put ourselves back on track,” said Bell.

“And we are putting as much effort into that, which is something we have to do for short-term gain and long-term gain, as worrying about specific bits for the car over the next few races.”

He added: “Quite clearly we have got some big steps to make and we need to make them in big steps, not lots of little ones because we don`t have the time.”

Bell said that he hoped the Barcelona upgrade would lift the team closer to Ferrari, McLaren and BMW Sauber, with further steps planned for later in the year.

“We need to have a very sizeable step. We need to make the first step in Barcelona to clearly demonstrate we have made a step forward, and start moving back to the leading three teams and edging away from the gaggle of teams sat behind them. (Then) mid season we want to show that is consolidated and that we are right there on the tails of the top three.”

10.4.2008   ▪ Formula One    ▪ Renault    ▪ www.autosport.com