Zoom Coulthard salvaged seventh for Red Bull

Red Bull Renault secured seventh position with David Coulthard at the inaugural Singapore Grand Prix, but it could have been so much more for the Milton Keynes-based squad. Both Mark Webber and David Coulthard gained by pitting before the safety car but the former would later retire with a gearbox failure while the latter would lose time in his final pits stop. The team are seventh in the constructors' championship with 28 points.

David Coulthard
“That was my second points finish this year, so I’ve got to be happy with today’s result. As far as the second pit stop went, the guys have been great this year and the work that they did on Saturday morning to get my car out so I could do a run was quite remarkable, so I’m not going to point any fingers at them. It’s just one of those things. There was a misunderstanding between some of the guys and I go when the lollipop comes up, but these things happen. Thankfully we got some points today. It was incredibly bumpy out there, you can’t see the braking down into Turn Seven and it was as hot as hell.”

Mark Webber
“I lost seventh and then fifth gear, which cost us a fantastic result, as I was stopping for my second pit stop later than Fernando (Alonso). It would have been nice to share the podium with him today, with him winning and me second. We got a bit lucky with the safety car, but in the end it didn’t work out. We had some good pace in the second stint and it was looking good. Overall, the event here has been very impressive, I think we should do more night racing. ”

Christian Horner
“After putting ourselves in a great position with a good call that enabled us to get both cars fuelled, serviced and back out on track before the pit lane closed, it’s really frustrating for Mark to lose a definite podium with our first mechanical failure during a race this year. David thereafter was doing a great job. He held Lewis (Hamilton) off for a large part of the race, but then dropped three seconds on his in-lap when Fernando (Alonso) popped out from the pit lane just ahead of him. He then lost more time at his final pit stop. That cost David what would have almost certainly been fourth position."

"So seventh, albeit his first points score since Canada, leaves us feeling that we should have come away with more. Congratulations to Renault on their win with Fernando. Well done to our mechanics too, who have done a fantastic job this weekend. The technician who was knocked over during David’s final pit stop has damaged his ankle ligaments and burned his thumb, but fortunately other than that he’s okay.”

Fabrice Lom, Renault
“A very frustrating day, we should have been second with Mark and it’s a big disappointment. We should also have been better with David, but he was blocked by Fernando (Alonso) when he came out from his second pit stop, which destroyed his chance. Congratulations to Renault, they won the race so well done to them.

E.A. © CAPSIS International