Renault won't race latest spec engine

Following Fernando Alonso's blow-up in Monza, and further problems in testing at Jerez and Silverstone, Renault brought two modified versions of their D-specification engine to Shanghai.

One of the versions was more powerful but had question marks about its reliability, while the other was less powerful but more proven with its reliability. Both engines were a step forward over the original D-spec unit raced at Monza.

Following engine dyno tests at Renault's Viry-Chatillon engine base this week to determine how much faith the team could put in the reliability of the more powerful engine, the team have decided to race with the more proven power unit.

A team spokesperson told autosport.com: "We have complete trust in the reliability of the engine we will be using."

World champion Alonso, whose two-point lead over Michael Schumacher in the title choice means the team cannot take any risks on the reliability front, said he was comfortable with the choice.

"It is perfectly okay," he said. "We had a problem in Monza and we had some thoughts and some guesses about what was exactly wrong with the engine. We then confirmed that in Jerez because it was exactly the same engine in the tests and it blew up again.

"So in a way we were happy that the engines blew up in Jerez because like this we can change that part, go back to the previous set up we had in the engine and forget all the problems."

Renault will continue working on the more powerful engine and are hoping to introduce it for the season-closing Brazilian Grand Prix, where it will only have to complete one race.