Q and A with Renault’s Fabrice Lom

Q. Fabrice, Fuji is a brand new circuit on this year's calendar. The Renault F1 Team did a Roadshow event there last year… will Red Bull Racing benefit from that experience?

Fabrice Lom, Principal Engineer, Red Bull Racing Trackside Engine Support: It's an important point. The rules of our partnership are very clear, and it is only an engine partnership. The only information from Renault F1 Team that is shared with Red Bull Racing, concerns the engine itself.

Of course, we can provide advice and our opinions from what we saw during last year's Roadshow at Fuji, but we cannot give any kind of information about parameters such as downforce levels for example… And we respect that agreement absolutely. On the engine side, we know how the RS27 should behave and we are completely open with our partner on this level.

Q. Looking at your simulations and what you already know of the circuit, will it be demanding for the engine?

FL: Not particularly, no, and especially coming after Monza and Spa. There is a very long straight of around 1.5km, but it is preceded by a slow corner and the longest period spent at full throttle is under 20 seconds – compared to 25 seconds in Spa. The predicted percentage of the lap at full throttle is around 50%, which is below the annual average.

So that means we have no particular worries about engine reliability, particularly because the track lies around 500m above sea level, which makes life easier for the V8: the engine develops less power, the loads on the pistons are reduced… But that doesn't mean we won't be paying our usual attention to reliability.

Q. Formula One is returning to Fuji for the first time in 30 years… Are you pleased?

FL: Yes because it is always interesting to learn new circuits and tackle new challenges. Suzuka may be a legendary circuit, and I must confess that on a personal level, I have never particularly enjoyed the surrounding area. So for me at least, it will fun to see what Fuji is like!