Renault F1 engine gains "much bigger" than ever before
Renault says the gains it is seeing from its 2019 Formula 1 car and engine are the biggest it has ever made over a winter.
After a season where the French car manufacturer ended up fourth in the constructors' championship, it knows it needs to make a good step forward if it is to start mixing it with F1's big three of Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull.
Renault's F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul sees no evidence, however, that the team's progress is slowing down - and if anything he is more bullish than ever about the potential improvements that are being shown from its factory efforts.
"If I look, what I see is an acceleration everywhere," Abiteboul told Motorsport.com.
"The gains that we will be making on the engine are much bigger than we have ever done in a winter – much bigger – and the gains that we are currently doing in the wind tunnel are much bigger than we have ever done.
"But, we have to be careful on the wind tunnel side, the aero side, as there is a big change of regulation. You all know that when it happens there is a big reset: you lose [downforce] and you quickly catch up.
"So it is difficult to make a distinction between what is coming from the regulations and what is coming from the effect of the restructure.
"But if I look at our capacity to engineer, to develop, design and manufacture, it is an acceleration everywhere."
Abiteboul thinks that the impact of the investment and restructuring that has been undertaken since Renault took over at Enstone is now finally paying off, which is why good improvements are being made.
"The car we have been operating this year is more or less a representation of where the team was 18 months ago," he said.
"There will be one or two generations of people who will have passed with the next generation of car that we will see next year, and that is frankly is why I am excited.
"We have a level of resource that is in my opinion good for what we need to do.
"There is stability of the organisation, there are new people and new faces that have finally joined us, and who understand the organisation, and are now working efficiently.
"So now it is positive, even if the challenge is huge."
Share Or Save This Story
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
“I went back to the car and cried” – Esteban Ocon opens up about his unexpected year on F1 sidelines
You Ask The Questions: Robert Kubica
On this day: Michael Schumacher’s final unsportsmanlike manoeuvre
Sam Mayer is going back to JR Motorsports in a new deal for 2027
IndyCar reports record 2026 metrics across broadcast, digital, and live events
NASCAR debates fairness of qualifying metric after two time trial rain outs during The Chase
Sebastien Bourdais joins DragonSpeed Corvette lineup in GTD Pro return at Petit Le Mans
Ten years of Baku: Can F1 2026 bring back the fear factor?
Great debate: Which circuit should host the F1 2026 finale if the calendar has to change?
Italy’s next F1 world champion?
What's behind the talks between the FIA president and Fernando Alonso over ADUO?
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