Renault backtracks with Ricciardo

The new version of the Power Unit Renault tested by Daniel Ricciardo at the Brazilian GP on November 15 was definitely not convincing. While the pilot Red Bull had to accept a penalty of ten places on the grid for this engine change, the Australian was not convinced by the potential of the 6l turbo/hybrid V1.6. “We were able to do quite a few laps and retrieve a lot of information. But, power-wise, I don’t find a big difference”, indicated the pilot in issue 2038 of AUTOhebdo.

Red Bull and Renault preferred to return to the old version of the Power Unit for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, season finale F1. “Put under pressure from Red Bull during last winter, we approached the season with engines for which we had taken big liberties in terms of the validation procedure. We saw what that did. A real trauma. We have therefore returned to the good old rules dear to Viruses-Châtillon: no introduction of anything new without three validations of endurance on the bench”, had specified Cyril Abiteboul, the director of Renault Sport F1, after the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Daniel Ricciardo will not receive a new penalty on the grid of the Yas Marina circuit since he will take over a Power Unit that has already been used.