Rumor

Formula 1

'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report

The new engine maps are designed to optimise the exhaust solutions being developed for 2013.

GMM

Edited: Feb 25, 2013, 3:13 PM

Copy link

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Red Bull Racing Technical detail of the engine

Feb.25 (GMM) Hot on the heels of Williams and Caterham's dubious exhaust exit solutions for 2013, trouble could also be brewing for F1's two other Renault-powered teams.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that, after Renault and 'works' partner Red Bull were told to cease using certain 'engine maps' last year, the same issue is now back on the table.

Remi Taffin, race engineer Renault F1 Team with Adrian Newey, Red Bull Racing, Technical Operations Director with Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing, Sporting Director

Photo by: XPB Images

Correspondent Michael Schmidt also said the similarly Renault-powered Lotus, who according to most pundits has been the second most impressive team of the 2013 pre-season, is also in the spotlight as the latest controversy brews.

The report said that despite the FIA issuing a technical directive about engine maps last August, "it was not clear what should apply for 2013".

Ferrari's engine boss Luca Marmorini was quoted as insisting "Everything remains the same".

His Renault counterpart Remi Taffin does not agree, claiming "a new benchmark" for engine mapping in 2013 will be set down by teams in Australia next month.

"The (August 2012) directive referred exclusively to last year," said the Frenchman.

According to journalist Schmidt, however, the FIA has confirmed that the August 2012 directive still stands.

Renault was reportedly unaware of the federation's stance until as recently as Thursday of last week, having developed new maps to optimise the exhaust-blowing effect for 2013.

Ross Brawn, Mercedes' team boss, thinks the situation could now harm Red Bull and Lotus, as their similar exhaust solutions for 2013 were probably designed to work in conjunction with "a clever engine management system".

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Viber

Previous article Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda

Next article Tim Goss appointed Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Technical Director

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

Latest news

Gabriel Bortoleto on Kimi Antonelli and Isack Hadjar's F1 success: 'Let's see where we are in 20 years'

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Singapore GP

18 min

Gabriel Bortoleto on Kimi Antonelli and Isack Hadjar's F1 success: 'Let's see where we are in 20 years'

Nicki Thiim's cheeky F1 jab: "Max Verstappen just wants to drive a proper race car!"

GT World Challenge Europe Endurance

WCEE GT World Challenge Europe Endurance 21 min

Nicki Thiim's cheeky F1 jab: "Max Verstappen just wants to drive a proper race car!"

MotoGP riders say 850cc bikes will be less physical and more fun to ride

MotoGP

MGP MotoGP

Indonesian GP

51 min

MotoGP riders say 850cc bikes will be less physical and more fun to ride

How the M8B became the most dominant car in McLaren’s history

General

How the M8B became the most dominant car in McLaren’s history

Feature

Discover prime content

Lights, Camara, action: How Haas picked F1's latest rookie for 2027

Formula 1

Singapore GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

Lights, Camara, action: How Haas picked F1's latest rookie for 2027

Employing team orders can simply be a matter of common sense

Formula 1

By Kevin Turner

Employing team orders can simply be a matter of common sense

Why Christian Horner sees history repeating itself for Adrian Newey at Aston Martin

Formula 1

Singapore GP

By Ronald Vording

Why Christian Horner sees history repeating itself for Adrian Newey at Aston Martin

Laurent Mekies under the microscope: How different is his leadership at Red Bull from Christian Horner?

Formula 1

Singapore GP

By Ronald Vording

Laurent Mekies under the microscope: How different is his leadership at Red Bull from Christian Horner?

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Become a subscriber.
Disable your adblocker.

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts