Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

MotoGP plans Austin showcase during F1 US GP

MotoGP
MotoGP plans Austin showcase during F1 US GP

The shocking aspect to Antonelli's rapid F1 title-contending transformation

Feature
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
The shocking aspect to Antonelli's rapid F1 title-contending transformation

Kay keeps two-wins advantage with Elan spirit in Autosport National Rankings

National
Kay keeps two-wins advantage with Elan spirit in Autosport National Rankings

"We don't want to put tape on anyone's mouth" – F1 boss reacts to driver criticism of 2026 rules

Formula 1
"We don't want to put tape on anyone's mouth" – F1 boss reacts to driver criticism of 2026 rules

Why the 2026 F1 season won’t end in Las Vegas

Formula 1
Why the 2026 F1 season won’t end in Las Vegas

How a young driver is using his illness to help others

Feature
National
How a young driver is using his illness to help others

The litmus test that has Hyundai confident for WRC season run-in

WRC
Rally Finland
The litmus test that has Hyundai confident for WRC season run-in

How F1 2026 has been a season of two halves for Ferrari so far

Formula 1
Hungarian GP
How F1 2026 has been a season of two halves for Ferrari so far

Renault only ran partial F1 engine upgrade in Brazilian Grand Prix

The Renault Formula 1 engine Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo took a grid penalty for during the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend was only a partial upgrade, Autosport has learned

The French manufacturer made a request to the FIA to use 11 of its 12 engine development tokens, which was accepted.

It had planned to introduce the latest specification power unit in the United States but delayed its introduction until Brazil as it continued to work on development.

It has since emerged only seven of the tokens were used on the the engine that Ricciardo raced in Brazil - and they were focused on the internal combustion engine.

The remaining four are to focus on the turbocharger, but due to part availability and compatibility with exhaust system, it was not possible to introduce that element of the update in Brazil.

Renault has yet to decide whether it will offer it for the finale in Abu Dhabi, as Red Bull would have to again consider whether the change was worth the grid penalty that would result.

Ricciardo was not very complimentary about the latest upgrade, suggesting the new specification is not any better than the old version.

Renault is keen to run the engine on-track as the data will be crucial for the French manufacturer's 2016 preparations.

It follows news that Red Bull and Renault are edging closer to continuing their partnership into 2016 following the team's failure to secure an alternative power source.

Renault's other customer Toro Rosso previously decided not to run the latest spec for the remainder of the current season as it is expected to return to Ferrari power next term, using a 2015-spec unit.

Previous article Ferrari: Brazilian GP proved F1 gap to Mercedes has shrunk
Next article Williams faces 'a lot of work' to close on Ferrari/Mercedes in 2016

Top Comments

Latest news