Abiteboul: a difficult decision for Renault

Renault will benefit from better media exposure by motorizing McLaren in the coming seasons, but the Losange took a risk. The transition from the Honda Power Unit to the 6l V1.6 turbo / tri-color hybrid should allow the structure to Woking to improve its performance, a parameter which could harm Renault Sport F1 team.

Cyril Abiteboul confirmed at a press conference in Singapore that the decision had not been easy to make, but that this choice corresponded to the principles of the Diamond.

“It was not an obvious decision. We know that we make an opponent stronger, we are perfectly aware of that. That being said, Renault's activity in F1 for 40 years has revolved around the field of engines. We are a manufacturer and the engine is at the heart of the automobile. This is what we have always done. We have always wanted to support great teams and great drivers. We did it for 13 years with Williams winning five titles and 12 years with Red Bull with four Manufacturers’ titles », commented the general director of Renault Sport Racing.

Cyril Abiteboul, however, reserves the right to predict what the ambitions of Renault Sport F1 Team will be in 2018 while the French team is in eighth place in the Manufacturers' Championship. The Losange will benefit from the arrival of Carlos Sainz Jr who will replace Jolyon Palmer in 2018.

“It's perhaps a little early to talk about expectations for 2018, apart from the fact that it's a year where we will continue to build the team which must move from the middle of the grid to the front. This season is not over. Our car is capable of doing better than eighth place in the Championship,” commented Cyril Abiteboul.

The general director of Renault Sport Racing also hopes to obtain good reliability with the French Power Units, the regulations strongly penalizing exceeding quotas which must further tighten next year with three changes of elements authorized for the entire season.

“The solution is to have a reliable engine and car and that is our priority, insisted Cyril Abiteboul. Most of the penalties received come from the fact that we are very late in the development of our engine this year and we are confident to benefit from better reliability next year even if the life of the engine will increase. However, grid penalties are meaningless. It's a double punishment after encountering a problem on the track. »