Almost two-thirds of the way into the 2006 Formula One season and Renault lead the constructors’ championship by 21 points. However, closest rivals Ferrari have beaten them in the last two races and the imminent summer testing ban means limited development opportunities until the end of August. Nevertheless, Renault’s Director of Engineering Pat Symonds insists there is no chance of his team going on the defensive…

    2006赛季的F1大奖赛几乎已经过去了三分之二，而雷诺(雷诺新闻,雷诺说吧)车队目前以21分的优势在车队积分榜(积分榜新闻,积分榜说吧)上领先。但是，他们最强大的对手法拉利(法拉利新闻,法拉利说吧)在最近的两场比赛中击败了他们，而即将开始的夏季测试禁期也意味着车队在八月底之前没有了研发的机会。不过，雷诺车队的工程总监帕特-西蒙兹强调说他的车队并没有打算就此采取守势……

    Q: If we compare 2006 to 2005, you were in a similar position at this stage of the year, leading both championships. What are the differences 12 months on?

    Pat Symonds: The strategy we have to adopt this year is totally different. Last year, our rivals had a speed advantage and their Achilles heel was reliability. We were on the same tyres, which meant it would be hard to race them - so we went conservative to benefit from their reliability problems. This year, Ferrari are on different tyres to us, so their performance is not in synch with ours. What's more, they have had bloody good reliability. As a team, we have improved our performance in every area, scored more points and finished more races. But that isn't enough this year, we have to develop aggressively and race aggressively too - which is a much more fun way of going racing. In retrospect, 2005 seems almost boring in comparison!

    问：如果我们把2006年和2005年进行比较，你们的位置在两年里的这个阶段很相似，都是在两个积分榜上位于领先地位。这12个月之间，有什么不同吗？

    帕特-西蒙兹：今年我们必须采取的策略完全不同。去年，我们的对手在速度上拥有优势，而要害则是在可靠性上。我们使用的是相同的轮胎，这意味着可能是他们在比赛的时候跑得太狠了，所以我们很保守地在比赛并得以从他们的可靠性问题中受益。今年，法拉利车队同我们使用的轮胎不一样，所以他们的表现并不与我们同步。另外，他们又拥有着非常棒的可靠性。作为一只车队，我们在每一个领域改善着我们的表现，从而能够获得更多的积分和完成更多的比赛。但在今年这还不够，我们必须积极地研发和比赛，这是一个参加比赛更为有趣的方式。回头看看2005赛季，相比起来那可以说是沉闷的一个赛季！

    Q: Tyres seem to be the talking point of the 2006 season. Why have they seemingly taken on such importance during this championship in particular?

    PS: Tyres always were a dominant performance factor, and always will be. But in 2006, we have two teams, Renault and Ferrari, with their cars at a very similar level - and each of them is on a different tyre. Added to this is the fact that tyres play a bigger role in total performance than any other factor. For example, in France, a 5 percent increase in downforce would bring around 0.3s per lap; a 5 percent increase in tyre performance would bring more than a second a lap. When this characteristic is coupled with the apparently equality between the leading teams, then tyre performance becomes the keynote of the championship.

    问：轮胎似乎成为了2006年的热点话题。为什么它们被看得如此重要，尤其是在这场大奖赛中？

    帕特-西蒙兹：轮胎一直是决定性能的关键性因素，而且还将会一直如此。在2006年，我们有两只车队：雷诺和法拉利。两者的赛车水平非常接近，但使用的轮胎却不一样。鉴于这个原因，轮胎在总体性能上比别的因素起着更大的作用。举例来说，在法国，下压力每增加5%就会让圈速提高0.3秒左右，而轮胎性能每提高5%就会让圈速提高不止一秒的时间。当这个问题出现在两只水平接近的车队上时，轮胎就成为了决定冠军归属的关键。

    Q: You have said repeatedly that this season is unfolding race by race - not according to sweeping general trends. Why?

    PS: It is because the balance of performance is so fine - and can swing either way on small details. In France, we raced aggressively and before the race, we hoped that Ferrari's tyre would not hang on - indeed, they themselves were worried that it would not. But it did, so we had to get the maximum possible from the weekend, which was second position. That might have been a form of damage limitation, but it shows how fine the balance is this year and how quickly it can swing. You have to think carefully for each event, prepare thoroughly - and then react as it unfolds. There are no certainties in this 2006 championship, and that's why we will be going to Hockenheim aiming to win.

    问：你曾经再三说过，本赛季的胜负会随着比赛地进行逐渐揭晓，而不会是一个一边倒的趋势。为什么？

    帕特-西蒙兹：这是因为成绩平衡非常不错，小细节都能对结果造成影响。在法国，我们在比赛时具有很强的攻击性，而在比赛之前，我们还希望着法拉利的轮胎坚持不下去。确实，他们自己也在为此担忧。可是，轮胎却坚持了下来，为此我们必须从这个周末开始尽可能地发挥出最大的水平。这可能是一个损坏限制的形式，但却证明了今年的平衡性有多棒，以及可以多么迅速地发生改变。你必须为每场比赛仔细地考虑，彻底地准备，而后随着比赛的进行有所回应。2006年的大奖赛不会有任何确定的事情，而那就是我们在霍根海姆(霍根海姆新闻,霍根海姆说吧)的目标是获胜的原因。

    Q: So in your opinion, the fact that Ferrari has won the last two races - and the last one in hot temperatures - in not a trend that will automatically continue through the summer?

    PS: I don't think there is any evidence either way, that's the real point. Magny-Cours is a circuit with some strange characteristics, and what works there doesn't necessarily work elsewhere. That's not to say it is not the case either, but there's no evidence for it. And people sometimes have short memories - after all, Michelin dominated in Canada where track temperatures were at 48° Celsius.

    问：所以在你看来，法拉利在过去两场比赛中的获胜??上一场是在高温下??不会在夏季演变成一种继续赢下去的趋势吗？

    帕特-西蒙兹：我认为这在任何方面都没有证据，事情就是这样。马格尼-库斯赛道拥有一些奇怪的特性，在那里起作用的东西在别的地方就不一定起作用。这也不是说那样的情况不可能，而是说没有证据说明这一点。有时候人们只会有短期记忆，毕竟，在赛道温度高达的48摄氏度的加拿大站，米其林就在那里取得了统治性的胜利。

    Q: In terms of Renault's partnership with Michelin, is development still moving ahead quickly?

    PS: Absolutely. As we began 2006, it was clear that Michelin had only one thing in mind: retaining their world championship. They are putting in that little bit extra in every area, and if anything, the fact they are leaving F1 at the end of the year has only made them more determined to leave as champions.

    问：在雷诺和米其林的合作方面，研发是否仍然快速地在进行？

    帕特-西蒙兹：当然。当我们开始2006赛季时，米其林只清楚地记得一件事情：保住他们的世界冠军。他们在每个领域中都付出了更多的精力，如果有什么区别的话，他们会在年底离开时F1的事情只会让他们更加坚定地要以冠军的身份离开。

    Q: Renault will introduce a significant performance update in Germany. Will that pay off not just at this race, but all the way through the summer with the testing ban in force?

    PS: I think we have to take things race by race, testing ban or no testing ban. There is nothing to support the argument that because we are quick at the start of August, we will be at the end. The three circuits and the tyres we use there will be very different. And we can still put aero updates on the cars without track testing, make some engine improvements, and run the cars on static testing rigs. History doesn't suggest that relative performance remains stable in August, so while our update in Hockenheim is an important one, we won't be resting on our laurels in Hungary and Turkey.

    问：雷诺车队在德国会引入一项性能上的重大升级。除了这场比赛之外，车队在有测试禁令的整个夏季也能因它受益吗？

    帕特-西蒙兹：我认为我们必须一场比赛一场比赛地看，有测试禁令或者没有测试禁令。因为我们在八月一开始很快，就会在月底快。这里没有可以用来证明它的东西。我们在三条赛道上使用的轮胎将会非常不同，我们仍然可以给赛车升级空气动力学，只要不在赛道上进行测试，为引擎做一些改进，以及在静态测试平台上启动赛车。历史上并没有说相对性能会在八月保持稳定，所以当我们在霍根海姆的升级是很重要的一件事时，我们就不会在匈牙利和土耳其停下来。

    Q: What can you tell us about the work being done by the team's three drivers?

    PS: Fernando (Alonso) has done a fantastic job so far this year. He may be leaving the team at the end of the season, but his relationship is unchanged. He has done extra testing for us, he is working hard, and I think he attaches real importance to the idea of winning a second title in a row. Giancarlo (Fisichella) has a pivotal role to play in the outcome of the constructors' championship. That title is going to go down to the wire, and Fisi needs to be there at every race stealing points off Ferrari. His contribution will be fundamental in the next months. And of course, Heikki (Kovalainen) has played an important role in our success. He has done a super job in testing. As engineers, we know that he is taking the car to the limit, giving good feedback - and giving directions the race drivers agree with. We haven't got a bad word to say about him.

    问：你能告诉我们车队的三位车手目前正做着什么工作吗？

    帕特-西蒙兹：到今年现在为止，费尔南多（阿隆索(阿隆索新闻,阿隆索说吧)）完成了出色的工作。他也许会在赛季末离开车队，但我们和他之间的关系却不会改变。他为我们完成了额外的测试，工作也很努力。我认为是他把连续第二次赢得世界冠军的这个想法赋予了真正的重要性。吉安卡洛（费斯切拉(费斯切拉新闻,费斯切拉说吧)）在车队积分榜上起着关键性的作用。这场战斗就快要结束了，而费斯切拉需要在每场比赛中都能从法拉利手中夺回积分。他的贡献在接下来的几个月中会很关键。当然，海基（科瓦莱宁）也在我们的成功之中起着关键性的作用。他在测试中完成了出色的工作。作为工程师，我们知道尽可能地利用了赛车，给我们带回了不错的反馈，给出了比赛车手也同意的方向。我们对他没有任何要埋怨的话。

    Q: How important would it be to this Renault team, to win a second consecutive championship?

    PS: I have always said that winning a second title is a mark of real class in any racing organisation. Any championship win is relative, and some titles are easier than others. But to win two in a row almost inevitably means you have dealt with different levels of competitiveness, and adapted to them. That shows the integrity of any team. For me, that would be the real significance of a title win this year.

    问：连续第二次赢得大奖赛对雷诺车队而言有多重要？

    帕特-西蒙兹：我总是说赢得第二次荣誉在任何一个赛车组织中都会是一个真正的等级标志。任何大奖赛的胜利都是相对而言的，一些荣誉要比另外一些来得容易。然而，能连续赢得两次就肯定意味着你能够应付不同水平的竞争，并且能够适应他们。那证明了任何一只车队的完整性。对我来说，那可能是要在今年赢得冠军的真正意义。

    Q: Clearly, you believe Renault will prevail in the battle. Why?

    PS: It's the depth of this team that makes me confident. The attention to detail, the ability to think ahead, to think laterally, to adapt. There are so many characters contributing so much to the effort, at the track, in the wind tunnel, on the dyno, in manufacturing, logistics, design and many more areas; what's more, each of these sectors has great depth. That is what will help us win in the end, and not just this year but in seasons to come as well

    问 ：自然，你相信的是雷诺车队会在这场战斗之中获得成功。为什么？

    帕特-西蒙兹：正是这只车队的内部潜力让我拥有了自信。对于细节的关注、未雨绸缪、横向思考以及适应的能力，取得成功的因素有很多，在赛道上，风洞之中，在制造时，后勤、设计以及更多的领域。另外，他们的每个部门都拥有着巨大的内部潜力。那将会帮助我们在最后赢得胜利，不仅是在今年，还会在以后的赛季之中。

    Q: Finally, taking things race by race, where will the competition be coming from in Hockenheim?

    PS: I am expecting a four-way battle between Renault, Ferrari, McLaren and Toyota. We saw in France that Toyota are right up there, and we know that McLaren are on the pace. No question, it's going to be a hard, hot weekend in Hockenheim. But we go there confident, determined to be aggressive. It's just the kind of challenge everybody at Renault enjoys.

    问：最后，从一场接一场的比赛来看，在霍根海姆，竞争将会来自什么地方？

    帕特-西蒙兹：我想会是雷诺、法拉利、迈凯轮(迈凯轮新闻,迈凯轮说吧)和丰田(丰田新闻,丰田说吧)这四只车队之间的较量。我们在法国看见丰田赶了上来，而且我们知道迈凯轮也拥有速度。毫无疑问，在霍根海姆这会是一个艰难并且炎热的周末。但我们来这里的时候充满了干劲和自信。这只是在雷诺车队的每个人喜欢的一种挑战而已。　（声明：F1官方网站版权所有，未经许可不得翻译、刊载，搜狐F1频道为唯一中文网络合法登载单位。 王波编译）

(责任编辑：郭健)