Renault on course to provide F1 teams with Bahrain test updates
Renault is on course to provide a raft of updates for its Formula 1 teams for the next test in Bahrain
On the back of a difficult first pre-season test at Jerez, when all the Renault-powered teams suffered reliability issues, the French car manufacturer has been working hard at its base to get on top of its problems.
Its efforts now appear to have paid off, with upgrades trialled on the dyno at Viry-Chatillon allowing Lotus to complete the maximum 100km mileage allowance during its shakedown at Jerez last weekend.
That run was in contrast to the kind of troubles that Red Bull, Caterham and Toro Rosso encountered during the Jerez test.
The Lotus debut run of its E22, which took place during two promotional filming days last week, was viewed by many as a key indication of how much Renault had improved after the first test.
The fact that the latest configuration of power unit was deployed without any reliability problems has given Renault Sport F1 some cause for optimism about an improved situation for its teams next week.
Renault has confirmed that the updates on the Lotus power unit included minor hardware changes, software bug fixes and calibration improvements.
The lessons learned from the Lotus shakedown will be applied for the final specification of power unit that will be given to its teams for the next test in Bahrain.
Under the terms of F1's testing regulations, which limit promotional days to being used only for marketing reasons, Renault was unable to trial any specific new developments during the Lotus 'filming' days.
It was however allowed to run upgrades that had already been validated at its headquarters.
Renault's focus is now on delivering its teams with a power unit that will allow them to run reliably and in a fully competitive form for the crucial final tests in Bahrain.
Previous article
Lotus reaches mileage limit in first run of its 2014 Formula 1 car
Next article
Ask Gary Anderson
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Teams | Renault F1 Team |
| Author | Jonathan Noble |
The changes Barcelona needs to provide a modern-day F1 spectacle
Formula 1’s visits to Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya over recent years have been met with familiar criticisms despite tweaks here and there to the track to improve racing. With the 2021 Spanish Grand Prix largely going the same way, proper solutions need to be followed to achieve F1’s wider targets
Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings
Often described as Formula 1's laboratory, the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona gave the clearest demonstration yet of the pecking order in 2021. And it's the key discrepancies from that order which illuminate who is excelling, and who needs to hit the reset button
How Red Bull’s deja vu set Hamilton on the winning path in Spain
An aggressive first corner move from Max Verstappen appeared to have set the Red Bull driver on course for victory in the Spanish Grand Prix. But canny strategy from Mercedes - combined with the absence of Red Bull's number two from the lead group - allowed Lewis Hamilton to pull off a demoralising reversal
The toe-in-water origins of Lotus’s groundbreaking F1 journey
In the first part of our history of Lotus, DAMIEN SMITH recalls how Formula 1 wasn’t an immediate priority for team founder Colin Chapman – but once he got a taste for it he just couldn’t stop…
How Hamilton’s qualifying record compares to Senna and Schumacher
Lewis Hamilton has just become the first driver to record 100 world championship Formula 1 pole positions. Time to revisit a debate we discussed when he reached 150 front row starts in 2020.
Why sustainability is being mandated by F1
Continuing to be socially acceptable as public views shift globally is vitally important to the future of motor racing, says PAT SYMONDS - especially in Formula 1, the championship that represents the technological peak
The Barcelona practice times that prove Red Bull's title credentials, and heap pressure on Verstappen
Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes led the way in Friday practice for the 2021 Spanish Grand Prix, but there was one big encouraging sign for Red Bull. The trouble is, it looks like making good on that gain will require its superstar driver to avoid repeating a mistake made today that left him well down the FP2 order
Why McLaren doesn’t doubt Ricciardo can escape his ‘dark’ place
Three points finishes from as many starts represents a decent opening innings on paper, but Daniel Ricciardo has endured a tough start to his McLaren career - only magnified his team-mate's excellent form. Yet both he and the team have good reason to expect a turnaround soon
