Renault says F1 engine updates now on hold until 2017

Although Red Bull had suggested last month that Renault was working on a big step for the Japanese Grand Prix, it now appears that the plans have changed.

Speaking at the Hungarian GP on Friday, Renault's engine technical director Remi Taffin said that the likelihood was now of a big changing waiting until the start of next season.

“I think it will be next year,” he said. “The big step we will have will be next year’s engine, race one.

“Until we get to the end of the season now we will be working on the specification we have now, trying to extract the most out it, but there won’t be any more let’s say big step as we had for race one and six.”

Good progress in 2016

Taffin said that he had been pleased with the way Renault had made good progress this year following its troubles in recent campaigns.

“I think it can only be a good satisfaction, because where we were coming from was a difficult year last year and now we can see the improvement on track and everything we got out from the factory to the track was working well,” he explained.

“So that was a good step forward, either from the first race or actually the Monaco/Montreal specification we introduced. It’s all working well.

“I just have to say we’re on it, but we have a good way to go.”