McLaren influence on Renault engine unlikely until 2020
Renault is open to McLaren influencing the design of its F1 engine, but says the British team is unlikely to have any impact until the partnership enters its third season.
McLaren has given up works status with Honda to join Renault's customer F1 engine programme until the end of 2020, when the current V6 rules cycle concludes.
As a works partner with Honda, McLaren influenced the design and packaging of Honda's troubled F1 engine, sending personnel to Honda's Sakura HQ and even collaborating on the design of certain electrical components of the power unit.
By returning to customer status, McLaren will now have to adjust its 2018 chassis around whatever product Renault delivers.
McLaren hopes to influence Renault's engine in a similar way to Honda as their new relationship develops, but Renault F1 boss Cyril Abiteboul told Motorsport.com the deal for 2018 came too late for McLaren to have any immediate say on engine design and packaging.
Abiteboul said Renault would be "open to their suggestion" but cautioned McLaren would probably have to wait until the final season of its initial three-year deal to hold any real sway.
"It's a bit complex," Abiteboul said. "First and foremost, we developed a complete power unit before working with McLaren, so it's not like with Honda, where Honda was dependent upon McLaren - we have the whole parameters of the power unit under our responsibility.
"I think we will take it step by step. We want to be very pragmatic. Clearly for 2018 and even 2019, it's very late for McLaren to have any influence on the hardware of the engine.
"Having said that, we want to be humble. We accept that we can improve our product, that we have to improve our product, and we will be open to their suggestion.
"I think it's more on the medium to long-term. First, we have to accept it's a new relationship, we will have to see how it evolves, but if it's working well, if it's a fruitful and positive relationship, then there is no reason it could not go further than this cycle of regulation.
"And therefore that we can have a different and more connected way of working together for the medium to long-term future. But it's not something for before 2020 in my opinion."
Share Or Save This Story
How Lauda won F1's closest ever title battle
Testing the tiers of Porsche's motorsport ladder
Track Test: Lamborghini Super Trofeo
What was "weird" about McLaren's poor performance at rough Sepang
Andrea Stella: F1 must avoid Sepang repeat, but "accept occasional glitches"
How the Bahrain GP in Malaysia exposed Red Bull’s hidden resurgence
Aprilia boss: Beating Marc Marquez in MotoGP title fight “the most difficult task we could have”
Marc Marquez believes MotoGP riders will eventually unite, as they do in Formula 1
Massimo Rivola responds to 850cc MotoGP speed concerns: 'What's done is done'
Valtteri Bottas completes three-day jungle ride to Singapore GP: "Your mind starts to play games at night"
No denying it now – the one reason why F1’s ‘horrible’ start in Malaysia could be a good thing
The greatest F1 campaigns with no wins
Three kings: F1's generational stars shone at Sepang
How F1 let a golden opportunity slip at Sepang
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.
Top Comments