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Hulkenberg: "Reliability issues Renault unacceptable"

Published on 31 Oct 2017 11:28
11
By: Rob Veenstra

Nico Hulkenberg says Renault's lack of reliability has become "unacceptable". Indeed, it was nothing short of a horror weekend for the French marque in Mexico, with Viry-made power units failing not only at the works team but also customers Red Bull and Toro Rosso.

Even the winner, Max Verstappen, was nervous as he cruised to victory. "I could see problems with many drivers and it made us nervous," said the Dutchman. "I saw that Daniel was also out and Toro Rosso and I thought 'Oh my god, do not let that happen to me'." Daniel Ricciardo agreed: "For some of us, it was a gruesome weekend."

For his part, works Renault driver Hulkenberg had to leap out of his failed yellow car with both feet so as to prevent an electric shock. "Something like this (Mexico) must not happen to a manufacturer," he told Bild newspaper, referring to Renault's Mexico outing. "It is not acceptable. We are not good enough."

For the German, it's his sixth DNF this year. "Everyone is angry, frustrated, disappointed," Hulkenberg told Auto Motor und Sport. "We somehow have to get it under control for next year. The damage has been done this year but reliability is our first homework task for 2018," he insisted. "Otherwise, even having the fastest car would not help us." (GMM)

Barron

Posts: 625

Just when McLaren thought they had it sussed. At least they’ve got the winter to get it sorted but I wonder if the altitude here made a crucial difference? If you don’t remap the fuel delivery the PU will run very lean and therefore very hot but turbos are complex beasts. Pretty sure Renault ... [Read more]

1
Oct 31 2017 - 11:50

F1 News Nico Hülkenberg Renault

Replies (11)

Barron

Posts: 625
Just when McLaren thought they had it sussed. At least they’ve got the winter to get it sorted but I wonder if the altitude here made a crucial difference? If you don’t remap the fuel delivery the PU will run very lean and therefore very hot but turbos are complex beasts. Pretty sure Renault would have been on top of this but clearly not.
- + 1
- Oct 31 2017 - 11:50
- f1ski
  
  Posts: 726
  the motor is turbocharged remapping for horsepower isn't necessary. remapping to run allow the engine to run cooler maybe. the less dense air cools more slowly leading to increased temps. I would love it if Honda became the engine to have next year. The McLaren looked good sunday
  + 0
  
  Oct 31 2017 - 15:03
- kngrthr
  
  Posts: 203
  Mclaren looked good in the twisty bits but couldn't pass the hass even with DRS
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  Oct 31 2017 - 20:42
RenaultFM1

Posts: 100
Yourself is lack of reliability. Many mistakes that cost points. I love Renault and hope they sack you next year. Palmer was just not fit for the new car type but he for sure has more nice personality than you. Carlos will beat you from now on as Peres did.
- + 0
- Oct 31 2017 - 12:40
- ajpennypacker
  
  Posts: 2,475
  Nico Hulkenberg has been exceptional except for a couple of unforced errors. Is this Kevin Magnussen's sour grapes?
  + 1
  
  Oct 31 2017 - 21:20
mbmwe36

Posts: 533
It would suck for Red Bull, but I hope these issues carries well into 2018, just to see Alonso implode, and Zak Brown possibly start crying on camera the 5th time it happens. If Honda manages to sort things out, well, that would just be the icing on the cake.
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- Oct 31 2017 - 16:45
- f1ski
  
  Posts: 726
  Boulier is their biggest problem.
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  Oct 31 2017 - 19:18
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Yeah would be amazing.
  
  At the moment I agree F1SKI. Its weird, he used to be the sorta sensible voice at McLaren before Dennis left. Its almost as if that brain parasite that infects the brains of EA executives also infect certain individuals of the McLaren team at a time, and make them spout nonsense, drool and pladder.
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  Oct 31 2017 - 20:08
- Barron
  
  Posts: 625
  Yes I worry about Boullier. I think he swallowed the Ronspeak dictionary but the words come out backwards.
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  Nov 2 2017 - 13:40
mcbhargav

Posts: 1,332
One of the best seasons for Hulk in F1. If KMag was in the other car, Renault would have been 5th in constructors.
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- Oct 31 2017 - 22:55
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
Like Renault or not, this performance was abysmal. When even Honda survives a race without a single retirement you know its bad.
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- Nov 1 2017 - 05:19