Renault won't make F1 engine upgrades until Russian GP

Red Bull must wait until the Russian Grand Prix in October before it can expect an updated Renault Formula 1 power unit, says team boss Christian Horner

Renault has fallen further behind Mercedes and Ferrari this season, with a horsepower deficit leaving Red Bull a distant fourth in the constructors' championship.

Reliability has been a particular problem with both Daniel Ricciardo, who suffered another engine failure during second practice in Hungary, and Daniil Kvyat on their fifth engine of the season.

Renault has yet to use any of its allocation of 12 engine upgrade tokens, with reliability the focus in the first half of the season.

"I don't think anything is scheduled now before Sochi," said Horner on Friday.

"That is probably going to be the earliest we will see any form of development or use of tokens.

"So the engines we have at the moment are what we have to live with for the time being.

"Engines four and five are what the drivers have been using between Friday and Sunday racing.

"Unfortunately, Ricciardo has lost engine four, so he has only got engine five which came into service for the first time in Austria to get him through the next few races.

"Only time will tell if we can get to Sochi without incurring another penalty before introducing a new upgraded unit."

Horner insisted Renault is moving forward, but he conceded the long lead-times required for engine development means progress is slow.

"Renault would be the first to admit they are not happy with where performance or reliability has been with this engine," he said.

"They are making progress, they are making strides. The problem with the engines, unlike the chassis, is they are long lead-time items.

"Renault have got some strategic decisions to make over the coming weeks in terms of the direction they want to go not just for 2016 but for beyond that."

HONDA UPGRADE FOR SPA

Honda motorsport chief Yasuhisa Arai said McLaren can expect an upgraded engine at the first race after the summer break in Belgium.

The McLaren-Honda alliance has scored points just twice this season and is ninth in the constructors' championship.

Honda used two of its nine tokens ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix but has since focused on getting on top of its reliability issues before pursuing performance.

"From a technical point of view, the power unit will have a big upgrade targeted at improving the power output from Spa," said Arai.

"But it is difficult to judge how it will work on the actual track. So I want to get the answer in Spa."

shares
comments

Hungarian Grand Prix Friday Formula 1 press conference

Is Red Bull really back in the game?

How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14

How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Jake Boxall-Legge

How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14 How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14

Why the highlight of F1 2023 so far should end Monaco's calendar slot debate

Why the highlight of F1 2023 so far should end Monaco's calendar slot debate

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Alex Kalinuackas

Why the highlight of F1 2023 so far should end Monaco's calendar slot debate Why the highlight of F1 2023 so far should end Monaco's calendar slot debate

Monaco Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Monaco Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Jake Boxall-Legge

Monaco Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Monaco Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Why Alonso and Aston made the call that guaranteed Verstappen's Monaco victory

Why Alonso and Aston made the call that guaranteed Verstappen's Monaco victory

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Jake Boxall-Legge

Why Alonso and Aston made the call that guaranteed Verstappen's Monaco victory Why Alonso and Aston made the call that guaranteed Verstappen's Monaco victory

The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP

The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Alex Kalinauckas

The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP

What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset

What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Jonathan Noble

What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset

Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari?

Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari?

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Matt Kew

Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari? Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari?

Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience

Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Jake Boxall-Legge

Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience

Subscribe