Even faster race starts for Renault?

[John S]

 
"This weekend we also have something we need to try" says Petrov, an ominous warning surely for other teams ahead of them on the grid in Shanghai.
It's all about clutch positions according to Vitaly in this edited piece from Autosport.com.
I just hope that any extra launch initiatives don't involve a take off and heavy landing for Vitaly, a la Sepang.  

Vitaly Petrov says his Renault team will try to further improve its starts with some new ideas for this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix.

The team's drivers made sensational starts in the Malaysian Grand Prix last weekend, with Nick Heidfeld jumping from six on the grid to second by the first corner.

Petrov said Renault will try some new things to make even more progress this weekend, although he admitted the shorter distance to the first corner will not help the team's cause.

"I think the team has done a good job," Petrov said in China on Thursday. "We are always trying to find good clutch positions to make a good start, and we try every weekend.

"This weekend we also have something we need to try and maybe we can improve. The pity here is that it's not a long straight."


Team owner Gerard Lopez told Gazzetta dello Sport that a big part of the merit was on the drivers.

"We know we have a good system, but it's mostly down to the drivers: the start is surely Petrov's strong point and Heidfeld already started well in Australia where he immediately made up six or seven positions from 18th on the grid. At Sepang they were both excellent."

By Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde, Autosport.com, Today.

[Wats-on]

Well, lets hope so! I do like to see both of them drive (sadly it's the wrong team, but whatever...).

Nick has always been good with starts, so I see him grap P1 this year in the first corner now and then...

Lets hope for some good results for QN.

[Scott]

On the other hand...if Heidfeld and Petrov can get the Renault go like that, and Rosberg is looking for another ride, maybe Vettel and Rosberg to Renault for next year.  Put Petrov in the Merc and Heidfeld back at Sauber with Kobi, where he is at home 

[Jericoke]

Maybe Petrov accidentally used the the new start launch system at Sepang.  Flying over the cars up the grid seems so much simpler that trying to pass them on track.