Breaking news

Formula 1

Red Bull tensions have hindered development, says Renault

Renault believes that the collapse in its relationship with Red Bull played a part in the lack of progress it was able to make with its updated Formula 1 engine.

Jonathan Noble

Jonathan Noble

Edited: Nov 22, 2015, 2:04 PM

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Renault logo on the Red Bull Racing RB10 engine cover

Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing RB11

(L to R): Cyril Abiteboul, Renault Sport F1 Managing Director with Dieter Gass, Audi Sport Head of DTM

Red Bull Racing, Renault Sport F1

Cyril Abiteboul, Renault Sport F1 Managing Director

Pastor Maldonado, Lotus F1 E23 passes a Renault advertising hoarding

Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing RB11

Renault logo on a truck

The French car manufacturer delivered a new specification power unit at the Brazilian Grand Prix, but it proved to not be much better than the older version.

Despite having some hope that using all the new components of the update – rather than just the internal combustion element that was run in Interlagos – will yet deliver a step, Renault thinks that things have been not helped by relations with its main team having eased off.

“It is true that recent history and uncertainty with Red Bull have loosened the technical collaboration that there was between our respective teams,” said Renault's F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul.

“Our dialogue has almost stopped. It was only fair for next year, but maybe where we should have been a bit more careful was that it didn't stop for this year.

"It meant we were not maximising the performance improvement of that engine, because if you change one element of the power unit you need to think of the side effect of all the other elements of the power unit.

“I think there is more to come from the elements than we have seen, and again we are not making use of all the hardware that is now available.

"So there is a slight disappointment but there is more to come and more to explain about that.”

Abu Dhabi rethink

Abiteboul has said that a decision will be made in the build-up to Abu Dhabi about what specification of engine will be used in the season finale.

And he has not ruled out the idea of going back to the older unit if it is felt that the new engine has not delivered.

“We have to look at the aftermath of the Brazil weekend of one engine on one car," he said, "understand where we are, and form some conclusions and some decisions for Abu Dhabi as to whether we continue at the same level, try to push one step further or even if we go one step backwards if it is not satisfactory at this point of time.

"But it is very much in relation to learning for next year.”

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

Read also :

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Previous article Ferrari "must be in front" of Mercedes in 2016

Next article Ricciardo says 2016 no write-off for Red Bull

Top Comments

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

View More & Comment

More from

Jonathan Noble



Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours

Formula 1

Formula 1

Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours



The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season

Formula 1

Formula 1

The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season



Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress

Formula 1

Formula 1

Australian GP

Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress

More from

Red Bull Racing



Max Verstappen sits out for Red Bull in Mexico GP FP1

Formula 1

Formula 1

United States GP

5 h

Max Verstappen sits out for Red Bull in Mexico GP FP1



Why Aston Martin and Red Bull were asked about an unlikely F1 engine partnership

Formula 1

Formula 1

United States GP

11 h

Why Aston Martin and Red Bull were asked about an unlikely F1 engine partnership



Max Verstappen’s words explained: Why Red Bull’s turnaround is so different this time

Formula 1

United States GP

Max Verstappen’s words explained: Why Red Bull’s turnaround is so different this time

Latest news



IndyCar veteran Sting Ray Robb secures United Autosports Asian Le Mans seat

IndyCar

Indy IndyCar 2 h

IndyCar veteran Sting Ray Robb secures United Autosports Asian Le Mans seat



Five things to look out for at the F1 Mexico GP

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Mexican GP

4 h

Five things to look out for at the F1 Mexico GP



Every time NASCAR took a win away due yellow line violations

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Talladega II

5 h

Every time NASCAR took a win away due yellow line violations



Max Verstappen sits out for Red Bull in Mexico GP FP1

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

United States GP

5 h

Max Verstappen sits out for Red Bull in Mexico GP FP1

Feature

Discover prime content



The one aspect of the 2026 US GP that should be a blueprint for F1 2027

Formula 1

United States GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

The one aspect of the 2026 US GP that should be a blueprint for F1 2027



A strategic masterclass: How Kimi Antonelli put himself on the cusp of F1 title at the US GP

Formula 1

United States GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

A strategic masterclass: How Kimi Antonelli put himself on the cusp of F1 title at the US GP



How Verstappen and Antonelli were both “surprised” in United States GP qualifying

Formula 1

United States GP

By Stuart Codling

How Verstappen and Antonelli were both “surprised” in United States GP qualifying



What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 United States GP

Formula 1

United States GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 United States GP

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:

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts

Subscribe