With the Australian Grand Prix just over a month away, Renault’s preparations for the new season are in full swing. All the hotels and flights were booked many months ago and the sea freight is already on its way down under.

This week the race team also began rehearsing pit-stops at the Enstone factory to make sure everybody is ‘match-fit’ and on the ball for when they have to do the real thing in Melbourne.

But before Melbourne comes around, there’s an intensive development program to get through with the R29 which will be spending the next three weeks in Spain, pounding around their regular testing haunts of Jerez and Barcelona.

Both Fernando and Nelson will be sharing driving duties as they continue to get acquainted with the new challenger and aim to get as much speed from it as possible.