Giancarlo Fisichella has a better than average record at the Monaco Grand Prix and, at the wheel of a Renault R25, the Italian could be the driver to beat in this weekend's race.

Giancarlo Fisichella has a better than average record at the Monaco Grand Prix and, at the wheel of a Renault R25, the Italian could be the driver to beat in this weekend's race.


The streets of the Principality have seen some of the diminutive driver's best race performances. He finished on the podium at the wheel of relatively uncompetitive cars in 1998 (second for Benetton Playlife) and 2000 (third for Benetton Supertec).


Despite winning the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Fisichella has been overshadowed by team-mate Fernando Alonso for most of the season. If Renault suffers a technical problem, it is usually on the Italian's car, not the Spaniard's (so far).


"I think I am with the right team for this race - Renault did a great job last year with Jarno (Trulli) to win the race, and the R25 will definitely be fast there," said Fisichella. "What's more important is that I think I can have a good race weekend from the start now: I am in the right place in first qualifying, near the end of the session when track conditions will be best, and that means I can fight to get a good grid position, which is so important in Monaco.


"I have very good feeling with this circuit," he added. "You need to be very precise with the car, and be aggressive without making mistakes. I love the sensation of driving through the streets, and really pushing to the limit. In the past, I have always gone well in Monaco, and it should be the same this year."


After being beaten to victory in the Spanish Grand Prix by McLaren-Mercedes' Kimi Raikkonen, Alonso believes Renault will be able to match the Woking-based team this weekend.


"We knew they (McLaren) were a bit quicker than us (in Spain), they had a new package there and it did the job," Alonso said. "But I don't think the race gave a representative picture of the difference between our cars, because Kimi was able to pull away too easily in the first stint as I was struggling with the car. I think we will be much more equal in Monaco."


As will be the case for most teams, Renault will introduce aerodynamic updates specifically tailored for Monaco.


"It (the new aerodynamic package) well help in performance, no doubt, but also it shows that the team is fighting as well," the Spaniard said. "Everybody here at Renault is pushing, and doing their part: the race team, the test team, and all the factories are going flat out to keep us on top. In Monaco, we will be aiming for the podium from the start of the weekend - and then we need to see things unfold, and how we can fight for more."

Original article from Car