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Renault could abandon 2016 car development soon

Published on 18 Apr 2016 12:14
7
By: Rob Veenstra

Renault is close to deciding to abandon development of its 2016 car, according to the Danish newspaper BT. It follows a mainly uncompetitive start to the season for the Enstone team, following the eleventh hour takeover of Lotus.

"At the moment there will be small, aerodynamic improvements," said Renault official Cyril Abiteboul in Shanghai, "and especially for Spain we have a major update. But right now we are deciding about the car with respect to 2016 and 2017," added the Frenchman. "We are yet to decide how much we will improve in 2016, but the improvements that do come must in all cases help also for 2017."

Renault, yet to score a single point this year, always acknowledged that 2016 would be difficult, given the lateness of the decision to switch from Mercedes power and in view of the sweeping rule changes for 2017. "To be honest," said Abiteboul, "within the team, there are different opinions about this, because it also makes sense to develop the current car."

"It could improve our performance, therefore giving us a better finishing position in the championship this year," he added, probably referring to the sport's income-distribution system. "But there are big changes in the aerodynamic regulations in 2017 and so we need to determine when we decide to focus on the new car. It is a decision we have to take within the next two weeks, and it is a decision that could mean that more or less we stop developing the 2016 car," Abiteboul said.

The 'power unit', however, is an entirely different matter, with Abiteboul saying Renault is "fighting like mad" to develop it. "No matter what we do with the car, we must have a more competitive engine," he said, amid reports a major upgrade is coming for Canada in June. "I cannot put a precise figure on the extra horse power that comes from the new engine, but we think the gap that we currently have to Mercedes will be halved." (GMM)

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Replies (7)

mclarenfan1968

Posts: 1,027
If Renault thinks their power unit is still shaite the Redbulls might be having very low drag on the straights or atleast they are able to run them that way for select tracks.
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- Apr 18 2016 - 12:21
Wolfgang

Posts: 313
@MclarenFan1968
Interesting point, especially when you think of their pure speed in the corners with their low drag setup. :-) I think the Red Bull Chassis is still the best on the grid. Let´s wait and see what Renault comes up with..
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- Apr 18 2016 - 12:33
- mclarenfan1968
  
  Posts: 1,027
  ..or just maybe Renault's engine dept is overtly kind enough to cover for their aero dept because they are too stuck up to admit their aero package is a pure turd ;)
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  Apr 18 2016 - 13:04
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
If they halve the gap Red Bull could very well do a major leap, not sure I approve of that though, I would honestly have preferred Renault to be stronger than them, but the current order was expected. Would be fun to see some numbers on the engines, such as power, dimensions, weight, fuel consumption... Mercedes is the most powerful unit, and one of the most fuel efficienty, but the unit is larger and heavier than Honda's and Ferrari's, but thats all I know. I have no idea how Renault stack up against them.
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- Apr 18 2016 - 15:38
khasmir

Posts: 893
Maybe they should have made up their minds a bit sooner...
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- Apr 18 2016 - 19:14
Elmgreen

Posts: 23
Can anyone tell me why, during races, we dont see fuel consumption anymore.?
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- Apr 18 2016 - 19:31
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  I have a few theories: either they decided that it wasnt something the viewers (we) wanted or needed to see, or the fuel consumption have improved so greatly that it hardly affect the races anymore, or we simply havent seen it in use yet.
  + 0
  
  Apr 18 2016 - 23:23