Renault Tag

Listen to “Drafting The Circuits October 26, 2017” on Spreaker. Frank Santoroski and the DTC panel – Gray Warran, Richard Youden, Seth Eggert and Joey Barnes – breaks down the USGP from Austin and the various controversies from the weekend, fills you in on the latest Indycar silly season news, and makes predictions for NASCAR’s final four. Credits: Host – Frank Santoroski DTC Panel – Joey Barnes, Seth Eggert, Gray Warren, & Richard Youden Producers – Anthony Arnold & Keith Hayes Special thanks to Whoobazoo for hosting the DTC Podcast. Social Media: Follow DTC on Facebook FollowRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief AUSTIN, Texas – Fernando Alonso is set to continue on with McLaren after the two announced a contract extension on Thursday ahead of the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas, which keeps the pair together for the 2018 Formula One season. The 36-year-old Spaniard returned to the Woking-based outfit for a second time in 2015 and has since struggled for results at the disappointment of a Honda relationship which comes to an halt at the end of this season. The two-time Formula OneRead More

By Adam Tate, Associate Editor After racing in Malaysia and Japan for Toro Rosso, 2016 Formula 2 (formerly GP2) champ Pierre Gasly is set to miss the U.S. Grand Prix in order to compete in the Super Formula season finale to try and add another series championship to his CV. Gasly temporarily replaced Daniil Kvyat in the team’s lineup and is expected to be paired with the Russian for 2018, but he is only half a point off the championship lead in Super Formula behind Toyota driver Hiroaki Ishiura. It isRead More

By Adam Tate, Associate Editor Williams Martini Racing has narrowed down its driver search for Lance Stroll’s 2018 partner to three, according to Motorsport Magazine. Current pilot Felipe Massa, who has been with the team since 2014 despite an initial planned retirement prior to the team losing Valtteri Bottas to Mercedes, is said to still be a possibility for the Grove-based outfit. However, the plan is to test out Paul di Resta and Robert Kubica before settling on the 2018 seat. For di Resta, who serves as the team’s reserve driver,Read More

By Adam Tate, Associate Editor Carlos Sainz’s widely reported move from Toro Rosso to Renault is apparently in the form of a “loan” which at least in theory, Red Bull can take back if they need or desire to. With the top Red Bull team filled and Pierre Gasly coming to take his place at Toro Rosso it is likely that Sainz will stay at Renault after 2018, but it is not guarunteed. Should Honda continue to be a disaster in 2018 and Red Bull be forced to take their enginesRead More

By Adam Tate, Associate Editor The biggest open secret in racing is now official; McLaren announced today that it is ending its troubled partnership with Honda, and signed a three year engine deal with Renault that will secure the Woking team with power units through the 2020 season. Takahiro Hachigo was regretful that the duo could not emulate the success of their illustrious past. “It is unfortunate that we must part ways with McLaren before fulfilling our ambitions, however, we made the decision with a belief that this is the bestRead More

By Adam Tate, Associate Editor Renault may yet come out the big winner through McLaren’s separation from Honda. Doing their best to exploit an enemy’s weakness, they have already poached Carlos Sainz from Toro Rosso and dropped them from their engine supply, but if a report by the usually accurate Auto Motor und Sport proves to be true it’s about to get a lot worse for Red Bull. According to the report, the French manufacturer has informed Red Bull that they are cancelling their order of power units for the 2019 andRead More

By Adam Tate, Associate Editor The final hurdle for McLaren to finalize its messy divorce from Honda has been cleared. The parties involved have convinced Scuderia Toro Rosso to a supply of Honda powerplants through the 2020 season. Renault will now supply one less team and Honda will have a partner so the Japanese giant can remain in F1. As widely speculated, Carlos Sainz is set to leave the team and join Renault to sweeten the deal, though it is unclear if he will do so before the end of theRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Cyril Abiteboul, the managing director of Renault Formula One Team, confirmed at Friday’s FIA press conference that the French manufacturer has talked with McLaren about a potential engine supply deal for the 2018 season. Renault, which currently supplies for its factory team and both Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso, appears to be McLaren’s last hope for a different power unit should it elect to terminate their relationship with Honda. For McLaren, the frustrations have grown as their three-year relationship with the Japanese manufacturer has failedRead More

The final day of testing in Budapest was a tale of a remarkable return and an impressive arrival, as Robert Kubica returned to F1 testing for the first time in six years to set the day’s fourth fastest time, while 17-year-old Lando Norris finished in second place, just two tenths of a second behind pacesetter Sebastian Vettel. Driving for Renault, Kubica, who had not driven a contemporary F1 car since suffering serious arm injuries in a 2011 rallying accident, set a best time of 1m18.572s to finish fourth on theRead More