> Symonds hails 'fantastic' Heikki

Engineering director Pat Symonds praised Heikki Kovalainen's racing ability after the Finn held off Kimi Raikkonen to take second place and secure Renault's first podium of a difficult 2007 season.

Symonds added that he was delighted to see two first year drivers on the podium, as Kovalainen followed fellow newcomer Lewis Hamilton home.

"Fantastic - intense pressure at the end particularly, but as we saw at Spa, he's a good defender, he's a good racer, and he just kept pushing in very, very difficult conditions," Symonds told ITV Sport's Ted Kravitz.

"Two rookies first and second, it's pretty good isn't it?"

Renault had gambled on running dry settings in qualifying in the hope that the weather would improve for race day, but ultimately managed to secure a podium with Kovalainen and fifth place with Giancarlo Fisichella despite conditions being the opposite of what the team had expected.

But Symonds intimated that Renault might have run intermediate tyres - like Ferrari - at the start had race control not insisted that the field all took full wet Bridgestones.

He said he had feared that starting on wets would have compromised the team's strategy of making a late single stop.

"Tricky conditions, particularly with the new rule that was introduced just before the start of having to use one particular type of tyre," Symonds said.

"I actually thought maybe we were fuelled incorrectly for that, but it's worked out well.

"A bit of luck comes into it, but I think going very long on fuel was the right thing for us today.

"It is a bit surprising actually, because you're not allowed to change the fuel - with the timing of this race - after 12.00, and that rule came out at 12.15."

In the event the Renaults were able to maintain a competitive pace during the first stint and both led briefly before their pit stops.

Kovalainen rejoined in fifth then gained positions when Fernando Alonso crashed and Sebastian Vettel hit Mark Webber before the restart.

Source: itv-f1