Renault unsure about engine problem

The Italian driver endured a troubled weekend after complaining about a lack of power from his engine during Saturday's qualifying. He struggled in the race too, before succumbing to a hydraulic problem.

Denis Chevrier, Renault's head of trackside engine operations, said the team were still unsure about the reason for the problems.

Fisichella, however, will get a new engine for this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix.

"We do not yet know the exact cause of the problem but with a power deficit of around 50 bhp, he drove a very impressive race," said Chevrier. "It is important to say the problem was not with the engine itself, rather with a peripheral component that led to a problem with how the engine was operating.

"In order to make a proper diagnosis in the best conditions, we have sent the engine back to Viry to be dyno tested this week with some very high performance diagnostic tools. As the rules allow following retirement, Giancarlo will use a fresh engine in Bahrain."

Chevrier also played down concerns about Fernando Alonso's engine ahead of the Sepang race, one of the hottest of the calendar.

"In actual fact, Bahrain was not as hot as expected, with ambient temperatures around 25°C," Chevrier added. "We will see higher values than that during the European summer. From that perspective, the hot race is still to come.

"However, Fernando ran a normal weekend and stayed within the engine's allocated performance potential throughout the Bahrain weekend."