F1 - Are Renault and Kimi Sandbagging?

[Rory Phoulorie]

Renault are being tipped to offer a surprise challenge to pace-setters Ferrari this weekend.

Although at first glance the team appeared to be off the pace in Friday practice at Melbourne, a more detailed examination of their running would suggest that Heikki Kovalkanien had good reason to claim earlier this week that Renault made a dramatic breakthrough in the final test of the winter at Bahrain.

Kovalkanien's team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella completed a lengthy run at the end of second practice at Melbourne, setting a series of competitive times in the process, suggesting that the team will be able to match McLaren and BMW over a race distance - and very possibly challenge Ferrari for victory.

"Renault look like they are going to be the surprise package of the weekend. Fisichella's long run pace was better than McLaren's and quick enough to worry Ferrari," a 'leading rival technical director' was quoted as saying by Autosport.

Meanwhile, Felipe Massa's status of pace-setter may be similarly misleading. After cruising through the second practice session, Kimi Raikkonen set the fastest times of the day in sector one and two during his final in-lap, suggesting that he too has plenty in reserve.

The Finn was evasive when questioned in the Friday press conference why he opted against finishing the lap, merely commenting: "I did not want any penalties."

http://www.planet-f1.com/story/0,18954,3213_1987248,00.html

[3stagevtec]

so, the plot thickens...
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