The nascent Formula One season is only four races in and Daniel Ricciardo’s Red Bull has already used up three Renault engines.
The 2015 Rule book mandates just four engines per driver this season, with additional engine changes resulting in grid penalties. It is clear after Bahrain that the Red Bull has pace, Ricciardo claimed a comfortable 6th place but did so coasting after his engine let go in spectacular fashion. What isn’t clear is the root of the issue and a deep fissure has developed between Red Bull and Renault, something that would have been unimaginable just a year ago.
Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has spared no feelings when summing up the situation.
I think that engine will be a coffee table in the future, that’s three out of four now for Daniel. We have had problems in every race so far.
Horner has even gone to Paris to meet with Jerome Stoll, Chief Performance Officer of Renault Sport, to address the issue. The three week break following Bahrain has given both parties precious time to make improvements. Both Red Bull and junior team Toro Rosso will benefit from updated engines this weekend as explained by Remi Taffin, Renault’s Director of Operations.
The three week gap has given us an opportunity to look at all the information from the start of the season. We have been flat out to counter the issues encountered early on and we will have a modified spec of engine for this race that should give improved reliability and driveability.
Image: Red Bull Content Pool
