Renault highly unlikely to bring forward debut of its new F1 engine
Renault is highly unlikely to bring the race debut of its upgraded Formula 1 engine forward to the Monaco Grand Prix even if it performs well in this week's test
The expectation had long been that the eagerly-awaited new power unit's first event would be next month's Canadian GP.
But Renault recently revealed it would be tried in the coming week's Barcelona test.
Customer Red Bull's strong performance in Spanish GP qualifying then led to speculation the engine might appear in Monaco, where the RB12 chassis is likely to be very competitive.
Asked about the possibility of Renault's plans being brought forward, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said: "That really depends on Renault.
"If there is a possibility to do so then we will look at it, but we need to wait and see."
Renault Sport managing director Cyril Abiteboul expressed caution over how worthwhile a Monaco debut for the engine would be.
Abiteboul told Autosport: "First and foremost we want to make sure we have all the green lights, and that is only something that may or may not happen during the test.
"That refers to reliability, driveability, cooling, everything. That is what testing is there for, and it's very fortunate we have the test next week.
"Secondly, the problem we have with Monaco is that it is a less power-sensitive track, and we would not want to bring that upgrade and... not underperform, but have people question what the difference is."
He argued bringing a more powerful but potentially less refined engine to Monte Carlo could be counterproductive.
"Around Monaco it is actually not going to make a big difference because Monaco is more a track where you need perfect driveability," Abiteboul said.
"When you introduce a new spec of engine you are always not perfect in terms of driveability.
"So we could have more power, but in terms of laptime it might not be something as good as we have now because of the driveability and the power sensitivity.
"What we are chasing is not power, but laptime, so that is the tipping point we have to analyse and we will do that right after the test."
Asked to sum up the likelihood of it being introduced in Monaco, Abiteboul replied: "It's a very slim chance".
Massa and Williams F1's Symonds disagree over Q1 exit lessons
Ferrari chief Marchionne insists team boss Arrivabene's job is safe
Why physical fitness is an understimated challenge for IndyCar rookies
The lack of in-car physical fitness is an “underestimated” hurdle for an IndyCar Series rookie, according to Dale Coyne Racing's Indy Lights graduate Sting Ray Robb.
Bubba Wallace ‘got dumped’ by Austin Dillon in NASCAR Clash
Bubba Wallace says Austin Dillon “dumped” him out of second place in NASCAR’s chaotic Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday night.
Albon warns Williams has "long road ahead" to recover in F1
Alex Albon admits that his Williams Formula 1 team has a “long road ahead” as it tries to progress up the field this year.
Toyota won’t put more pressure on Katsuta at WRC Rally Sweden
Toyota World Rally Championship boss Jari-Matti Latvala says the team won’t "put more pressure" on Takamoto Katsuta to deliver in his first drive for the factory team this weekend.
The pioneering F1 car that preceded Lotus’s terminal decline
In the hands of Ayrton Senna the actively suspended 99T would be the last F1 race-winning Lotus but, as STUART CODLING reveals, it was a complicated machine that caused more problems than it solved
How Tyrrell became a racing Rubik’s cube as it faded out of F1
Formula 1’s transformation into a global sport meant the gradual extinction for a small team determined to stay true to its low-budget roots. But Tyrrell would eventually be reborn as a world-beating outfit again, explains MAURICE HAMILTON, albeit in different colours…
Assessing Hamilton's remarkable decade as a Mercedes F1 driver
Many doubted Lewis Hamilton’s move from McLaren to Mercedes for the 2013 Formula 1 season. But the journey he’s been on since has taken the Briton to new heights - and to a further six world championship titles
Why new look Haas is a litmus test for Formula 1’s new era
OPINION: With teams outside the top three having struggled in Formula 1 in recent seasons, the rules changes introduced in 2022 should have more of an impact this season. How well Haas does, as the poster child for the kind of team that F1 wanted to be able to challenge at the front, is crucial
The Mercedes F1 pressure changes under 10 years of Toto Wolff
OPINION: Although the central building blocks for Mercedes’ recent, long-lasting Formula 1 success were installed before he joined the team, Toto Wolff has been instrumental in ensuring it maximised its finally-realised potential after years of underachievement. The 10-year anniversary of Wolff joining Mercedes marks the perfect time to assess his work
The all-French F1 partnership that Ocon and Gasly hope to emulate
Alpine’s signing of Pierre Gasly alongside Esteban Ocon revives memories of a famous all-French line-up, albeit in the red of Ferrari, for BEN EDWARDS. Can the former AlphaTauri man's arrival help the French team on its path back to winning ways in a tribute act to the Prancing Horse's title-winning 1983?
How do the best races of F1 2022 stack up to 2021?
OPINION: A system to score all the grands prix from the past two seasons produces some interesting results and sets a standard that 2023 should surely exceed
Who were the fastest drivers in F1 2022?
Who was the fastest driver in 2022? Everyone has an opinion, but what does the stopwatch say? Obviously, differing car performance has an effect on ultimate laptime – but it’s the relative speed of each car/driver package that’s fascinating and enlightening says ALEX KALINAUCKAS
Subscribe and access Autosport.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.