Horner claims Renault providing "below par service"
Red Bull boss Christian Horner said Formula 1 engine supplier Renault needs to sort out its reliability problems because his team is not getting what it pays for.
Max Verstappen dropped out from fifth with an engine problem in the Belgian Grand Prix in what was his sixth retirement of the campaign, four of which have been mechanical, in 12 races this season.
“Renault are quite aware that their reliability and product isn’t where it should be,” said Horner. “It’s their business to sort that out.
“We’re a paying customer and it’s obviously below par the service we are seeing at this point in time because [of the] reliability issues, the failures.
“We pay a hell of a lot of money for the engine. They need to sort it out.
“It’s hurting them as much as it is hurting ourselves. At this level, you can’t afford the kind of failures that we’re consistently seeing.”
Horner said it seemed that a "sensor issue or a spark plug issue" caused Verstappen to stop out on track at Spa.
It comes on a tough weekend for Renault which featured a complete power unit change for Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat after first practice at Spa and a change of internal combustion engine for Verstappen and Renault’s Jolyon Palmer ahead of final practice.
“Reliability across the three teams is pretty dire,” said Horner. “Turbo failures with Kvyat, engine replacements that have had to happen with two cars as we come here.
“It’s not great, it’s far from great and it’s not the level an engine supplier which wishes to be competitive in F1 should be at.
“They are working hard at it and hopefully putting in place process to avoid the kind of issues that we are seeing.”
Verstappen said last week that Red Bull needs to lift its game over the next 18 months if he is not going to be tempted to leave.
And speaking immediately after the race, the teenager said the reliability of his car in 2017 has been as bad as Fernando Alonso’s.
“He’s just enormously frustrated as you can imagine,” said Horner. “Once again, he’s in a great position and through no fault of his own, another engine issue.
“He has had [Renault special advisor] Alain Prost come and apologise, Renault are going to apologise, but it doesn’t change the situation unfortunately.”
Share Or Save This Story
Rowland to test Super Formula car this month
Sirotkin, Stroll to have two race engineers each
Hamilton "sacrifice" saved Mercedes an hour of testing
How Monza revealed the true picture – Max Verstappen responds to FIA's surprising ADUO verdict
Max Verstappen reveals laid-back approach to 100-driver Silverstone challenge
The hidden benefit of Max Verstappen’s new F1 deal that Red Bull wants to exploit
Max Verstappen’s short but telling reaction to F1’s new Madrid circuit
F1 Spanish GP at Madring: Saturday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
What Max Verstappen’s big deal means for his future, Red Bull and F1
No rushed comebacks: A paradigm shift in MotoGP?
How Monza revealed the true picture – Max Verstappen responds to FIA's surprising ADUO verdict
Oliver Solberg urges “clever” approach as tyre fears grow for Saturday at WRC Chile
Max Verstappen reveals laid-back approach to 100-driver Silverstone challenge
What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 F1 Spanish GP
What F1's risky Madrid bet needs to get right in order to pay off
The deeper meaning of Vettel’s emotional Schumacher demo run at Monza
Why new Madrid F1 circuit will be a "challenging" test of cars and engines
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments