Alonso and an unimpressive "shark": not very sexy

Alonso and an unimpressive "shark": not very sexyPortimao, Portugal  - The Formula 1 circus, which on this crisis year is set to cut its spending by some 30 per cent at the request of the FIA, launched the first joint tests Monday in Portimao, Portugal with a show that was in accordance with the new era: grey, lacklustre and somewhat disappointing.

"It is not at all sexy," an Italian journalist said of the new weapon in the hands of double world champion Fernando Alonso.

Others spoke of an eighties look. The Spaniard's new car, the Renault R29, which was unveiled Monday in a modest ceremony in the Algarve, caused both surprise and controversy: some liked it, others not quite.

What is true is that the R29, which at the beginning of the year did not pass the International Motorsport Federation FIA's front and lateral impact tests, is quite different not only from the trend in 2008, but also from the look that other teams have unveiled so far this year.

It still features the shark's snout, but it is quite a bit bigger than those of the other teams, and its front spoiler stands out for its simplicity. A French journalist commented, rightly so, that the R29 resembled a "Formula 3 car."

Amid the novelties, there is also more orange in the chassis, a concession to financial services sponsor ING. Despite the ongoing financial and economic crisis, the bank vowed it would fulfill its commitments to Renault, whose parent company is going through hard times of its own.

The car that was unveiled by team managing director Flavio Briatore and by drivers Alonso and the Brazilian Nelsinho Piquet looks more yellow and also incorporates red, which pushed out the more traditional blue in the wake of a sponsorship deal with French energy giant Total.

Like in other teams, there were few aerodynamic "adventures" to speak of, with a narrower rear spoiler and a broader front spoiler.

Shortly before Renault did, Williams unveiled their new F31 despite not having yet defined the colours it is set to show on its chassis.

The British team, looking to resurrect past glory, featured German drivers Nico Rosberg and Nico Huelkenberg, a tester. The Japanese Kazuki Nakajima, the team's second driver, was also set to try the new car.

Alonso, who in the second half of the 2008 season helped Renault rise from its ashes, has already said that he wants to fight again in 2009 for the title that he already won in
2005 and 2006 with the same team.

However, the "shark" is not yet too scary. It remains to be seen whether engine changes accepted by other teams and by the FIA, for Renault to adapt to the competition, will in fact work out.

Weather conditions in Portimao did not allow the French team's new car to prove first impressions wrong on the tarmac. A mild but persistent rain prevented the five teams that were present (McLaren- Mercedes, Toyota and Toro Rosso, as well as Renault and Williams) from testing themselves properly.

The rain also kept the fans away and gave the tests a disappointing look. The owners of the new Algarve circuit, who seek a place in the official Formula 1 calendar, were expecting several hundred people, perhaps thousands. However, only 30-40 people bought tickets for 15-45 euros.

On the stands, fans suffered the cold and got wet, and they saw very little since the cars did not do many laps. Alonso did not even get to drive: he did a few laps on a bicycle and was only set to get behind the wheel Wednesday.

In any case, nobody was interested in the day's times. Some 100 journalists on the site were impatiently awaiting a later press conference by Alonso and Briatore.

It was a wasted day in terms of reconnaissance. Some recalled Ferrari's last-minute decision to heed meteorologists' predictions and change its planned participation in the Algarve for tests in Mugello. On a year in which private tests will be forbidden once the season formally starts on March 29 in Australia, the pre-season is more important than ever before.

The Algarve circuit is set to stage tests until Thursday. It was opened in November, and it fits 80,000 spectators, for a 4,658-metre course. The circuit is a real rollercoaster, with several slopes including one of 17 per cent.

"We hope it will bring us lots of food," one taxi driver graphically said, with reference to the tourists who are no longer visiting the area due to the crisis. (dpa)

Regions: