7
Renault drivers say they could barely feel the effect of the new qualifying 'party mode' in Austria.
The French supplier has lagged behind Mercedes and Ferrari in terms of giving its drivers a special qualifying engine mode with significantly more power.
But the Renault 'party mode' was finally added in Austria.
"I didn't feel much," admitted Red Bull's Max Verstappen.
"I think there was a small increase in power, but I'm not sure it is fully optimised yet. I think it has improved a little, but it was hard to feel," he added.
According to AS newspaper, team boss Christian Horner agrees: "I think it was more an appetiser than a party."
Even the works Renault drivers were not impressed.
"I think something more important has to happen to make it noticeable," said Nico Hulkenberg.
"I don't know what they've told you about what we have, but I can tell you that it wasn't shocking."
And McLaren's Fernando Alonso said: "We trust that it will do more, but it is difficult to make a direct comparison between the previous map and this one."
Maybe the party was ‘fancy dress’ and it was only masquerading as an improvement. Possibly an early Halloween and it was trick or treat.
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
M. Verstappen
C. Sainz jr
C. Leclerc
Bahrain
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
Australia
Albert Park
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
749,550 comments on Red Bull Racing
968 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Max Verstappen
236,923 comments on Renault 27 members have this team as their favourite Tweets about Renault
Olfacius
Posts: 31
...and the smoke machine was sensational!