Daniel Ricciardo, Renault, Baku, 2019

Renault brings new engine to Spain to address reliability worries

2019 F1 season

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Daniel Ricciardo says Renault have a “pretty big” upgrade package for this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, including a reliability update for its power unit.

The team has suffered a series of reliability problems this year including a double retirement in the Bahrain Grand Prix. Team principal Cyril Abiteboul described these as “frustrating and unacceptable” at the time and said the team must focus on fixing the problems.

Since then the team has introduced a revised MGU-K. A further reliability tweak is coming in a new engine specification this weekend, according to Ricciardo.

“It’s mainly for reliability,” he said. “I don’t know how much detail they’ve gone into, what parts have changed.

“Some materials, I know what they are but I don’t know how much I can obviously say, but some materials have changed to help reliability. So for now that’s the target.”

Ricciardo hopes this means the team will be able to shift its focus back to improving the performance of its E-Tech 19 power unit.

“Obviously we’ll see that it’s more reliable, then we can start again pushing the power curve and all those other things that everyone does in qualifying and all that.”

Ferrari has also brought a new power unit to this weekend’s race.

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2019 F1 season

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10 comments on “Renault brings new engine to Spain to address reliability worries”

  1. Prepare for a Renault engine to go POP in practice as they push the limits.

    1. That was pretty much my thought. Either that or they’ll have screwed down the power so much to make it reliable it’ll be massively slow.

      1. You guys are such pessimists! Rofl! 😀

    2. It can happen, but it would be a massive shame, both for the team and constructor’s reputation but the sport as well, as an healthy Renault PU could mean more competition coming from 2 possible big teams, Renault itself and McLaren.
      Also new failures will be the confirmation that the current organisation (this case the engine team at Viry-Chatillon) cannot really achieve the level required for F1 at the moment, so the prospects for the team, and having 4 PU suppliers in F1, would not be good at all. As a fan of the Enstone team, seeing them going on a crisis again (as Renault leaves F1) is sad…

      1. I am keeping my fingers crossed that they surprise use going forward. Barcelona usually feels like a sink or swim last chance opportunity race that dictates how the rest of your year will unfold. Let’s see how it goes.

  2. Sonny Crockett
    10th May 2019, 9:24

    Presumably McLaren won’t get the upgrade until the next race and/or it’s been proven to be reliable?

    1. Good question. Renault should use McLaren as test bed not the other way around.

      1. Sonny Crockett
        10th May 2019, 10:12

        Andrew Benson of the BBC has just reported as follows:

        Renault have also produced an upgraded internal combustion engine. F1 boss Cyril Abiteboul says they are “aiming” to have it in all four cars – both Renaults and both McLarens – but he says that “is going to be tight”. The upgrade has more power and is meant to improve reliability, too.

        Fingers-crossed it pushes them nearer to RB.

  3. Maybe if they fit the engine atop the nose, Ricciardo might finally get that front-end grip he’s been missing.

    1. @phylyp He would need to wear an open face helmet.

      :))

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