By role
July 6 2004

Spanish Driver Fernando Alonso was able to finish second at the Fr4ench Grand Prix in Renault’s Grand Prix. The Spaniard, that led the race for 34 laps, was unable to hold Michael Schumacher behind him thanks to a brilliant strategy by the Ferrari team. However, Renault knew that their chances of winning were low as the Ferrari of Schumacher was fastest than the R24.

Therefore Alonso was quite happy at the end of the race:
"I have been waiting for this podium for a long time: I could have had it at each of the last two races were it not for mechanical problems, so I am really happy to be here! I had a good race, and fought as hard as possible, but I think Michael was just stronger today. To score my best result of the year at Renault's home Grand Prix is a great feeling; the only disappointment I feel is for Jarno, because it would have been great to be on the podium together." He said.
Jarno Trulli finished 4th ,loosing at the last turn his chances on a podium position after a slight mistake and a brilliant move by Rubens Barrichello. Obviously, Jarno was quite sorry and disappointed for the team:
"I am gutted for myself and the team to have lost third place at the very end of the race. I made a fantastic start to get in front of Button and Coulthard, and the car seemed pretty competitive; even so, I couldn't keep up with Fernando because the car was quite nervous to drive. The race was going to plan until the last stint, when the car had less traction and was oversteering a lot. I defended against Rubens as much as possible, but on the last lap, he was quicker on the exit of turn 13 and passed me under braking for the next corner - I tried to close the door, but couldn't. At the moment, all I feel is disappointment, but I will have to get over it and come back stronger at the next races." He said after the race.
Renault F1 Managing Director, Flavio Briatore, was quite happy for Alonso but also disappointed in having missed a podium possibility:
"Before the race, we thought that Ferrari were quicker than us and they demonstrated it today. Even so, it is a great accomplishment to score our best result of the year here in France. Fernando was excellent throughout the race and deserves his second place. It was, though, very disappointing to see Jarno miss out on a podium by just several tenths of a second." Said the Italian Manager.
Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineer, said after the race:

"Although this is our best team result of the year, it is hard not to feel frustrated because we could so easily have had two drivers on the podium today. We had suspected the race pace of Ferrari would be strong after practice, and we therefore tried to counter their strategy by adjusting ours, with Fernando running a shorter third stint than originally intended. But, quite simply, they were faster today. Fernando understood the race well and reacted as he needed to at every key moment. Jarno was under severe pressure for a long part of the race, but unfortunately succumbed at the last."