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Renault Update R29 for Monaco, Focus on Qualifying

If there's one thing all Formula One drivers can agree upon, it's this: qualifying makes the world go round in the challenging Monaco Grand Prix, as good grid positioning will more than likely make one's life easier though the narrow, twisty streets of Monte Carlo. Renault's Fernando Alonso and Nelsinho Piquet make no exception, as they both reckoned that Saturday qualifying will be as important as the race itself in getting away from the Principality with a few points on the scoreboard.

Alonso has so far qualified inside the Top 10 in every grand prix weekend of the season, while Piquet is still searching for the Q3 presence in 2009. One reason for that would be that Alonso's R29 was constantly updated by Renault, while Piquet was forced to compete with the team's initial package for most of the events.

It’s important that we can qualify near the front - hopefully in the top ten - and make the strategy work. The streets are narrow and the walls so close that you really cannot afford to lose concentration for a second or make the slightest mistake. It’s normally an eventful race and so we need to be ready to take advantage of any situation that comes our way,” said the Brazilian driver in a preview for the Monaco GP.

We still need to take a big step forward with the car to get to the front, but we are making progress at each race and we have scored some more important points. I think we can realistically hope to qualify in the top ten and aim for points in the race,” added Alonso.

Renault's technical director Bob Bell revealed the Enstone mechanics have made some adjustments to the R29 especially for the Monte Carlo track, but admitted it cannot be regarded as a major facelift of the 2009 challenger.

We have some minor updates because Monaco always needs a slightly different package, for example it requires the most steering lock of any track we visit. It won’t be as big a step as we made in Barcelona, but we are still hopeful of adding some performance to the car to keep closing the gap to the leaders,” said Bell.
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