Q & A with Renault's Denis Chevrier

Q. Denis, does the arrival of the V8 lead the engine team at the track to alter how you use the engine?

Denis Chevrier - Renault's head of engine operations:No. The basic work of the engine team at the track will not change significantly. The technology of the engine is an evolution of what we used in 2005: the RS26 is a distillation of Renault's expertise. The individual cylinder capacity remains the same, so only certain characteristics, such as the power delivery, are different. Of course, we need to adapt but these are relatively minor differences. There will be no fundamental differences in how we use the V8 at the track this year.

Q.So your job is still the same...

DC: Yes. The track-side team need to have the tools, people and organisation necessary to enable the engine to deliver its maximum performance, without compromising reliability. In that sense, our job remains the same.

Q. What will be the differences relative to 2005?

DC: In terms of our track-side organisation, changes have been implemented as a consequence of the new qualifying format, and the possibilities opened up by the changes to the tyre regulations. In collaboration with our colleagues from Enstone, we have developed new running programmes for the race weekends: how do we tackle the first, second and third parts of the qualifying session? When can we conduct our evaluation of the shorter-life tyres? The regulations have an impact on how we use the car, and we have tried to respond to this in the best possible fashion.

Q. What are the different characteristics of the V8 and V10?

DC: The power levels will be lower but, more importantly, the delivery will change. The regulations now prevent us from using variable inlet trumpets. By optimising the injection at different revs, they provided us with maximum power across a wide rev range. Now, there is a 'peak' in the power delivery and, on either side of the peak, the available horsepower diminishes significantly. To be quick, you need to remain as close as possible to this peak. Which means the engines will be used more severely.

Q. What will the consequences be for the drivers?

DC: The potential grip of the cars remains unchanged, so with the reduction in power levels, the drivers will spend longer at full throttle.

Q. Does that mean the driver's role will be diminished, because it will be easy to take corners flat out?

DC: Not at all! In fact, the opposite is probably true. The aim will still be to take each corner in the most effective manner, and to transmit every available bit of power to the tarmac. When there is an optimum way to find, there are always some who find it quicker, and better, than others.