“What are your feelings after the first tests behind the wheel of this new 9X8?
We worked well on the weak points of the old version. We have made steps forward, but it remains difficult to quantify in terms of lap times. For me, a car is good when it gives you confidence, reacts the way the driver wants. We managed to hit that with the new evolution. On paper, it doesn’t have more downforce or drag, but we open the window a little and it will be easier for the engineers and pilots to exploit it.
A rear wing, different width tires, what difference does that make to the handling?
The car is more predictable when you try to find its limits. His reactions to setting changes are more logical too. The window where the car works well is wider so slight changes in settings do not change its behavior too much. We hope this will make it easier to tune up during the race weekends.
With this version, the objective will be to perform well on all circuits?
The idea is above all to find a compromise, it is not possible to be on top everywhere. Above all, you need to have a larger operating window to operate the car on different circuits. When you feel more comfortable behind the wheel, it’s also easier in traffic.
What is the atmosphere like in the team after this once again studious and intense winter?
I didn’t feel any regret for abandoning the previous concept, rather a big motivation to prove that we can make this car work. It is a strong signal to have decided to rework this base to become more competitive, instead of saying “we have made our car, it is up to the other parameters to change to put us in the game”. It was also necessary to analyze the reasons why the chosen concept did not work, compared to the others. The regulations have changed, Peugeot didn’t just have crazy ideas, alone against everyone. »
