FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[CookinFlat6]

No matter how clever RBRs 'interpretation' of the new regs, and even no doubt with the FIA turning a blind eye, their car will not finish or win races if the Renault unit is not integrated and packaged as well as Mercs. Theres nothing Newey can do about making the power unit exploit the regs as well as Mercs as RBR are getting the same engine other teams are

I dont think we should underestimate the importance of power unit and chassis designed exclusively and in tandem

Horner seems to be already drawing a line between his team and Renaults contributions

Red Bull boss Christian Horner believes Renault will deliver a competitive Formula 1 engine next year, despite not having the highest budget among suppliers.

The French car marker has helped Red Bull clinch four consecutive drivers' and constructors' titles, and will again power the team in 2014 when turbo engines will return to F1.

Renault famously introduced a turbo engine in F1 back in 1977, becoming the first team to win with a turbocharged car two years later.

"Renault has got a great track record and we have achieved some phenomenal things with them," Horner told AUTOSPORT.

"They perhaps don't have the budget of some of the others but they have been prudent in how they spend it.

"We are pretty confident that we will have a competitive power plant.

"There's an awful lot a hearsay that goes round at this time of year but as always, what is important is what happens when the flag drops in Melbourne."

Horner said Red Bull's relationship with Renault means the French manufacturer will do everything possible to adapt its engine to next year's car.

"The status we have as their works partner means that the maximum effort is going into optimisation of the engine and the Red Bull car," he said.

"It's going to be a big element of grand prix racing next year.

"Renault has worked very closely with us on the installation of the engine and we have concentrated where they can.

"They [have their] specialist area, our area is the chassis, so it has been a collective effort over the last couple of years to integrate the engine."

Big difference between collective effort and singular effort like with Ferrari and Merc. Also 'adapting its engine to RBRs car' is a long way away from 'engine and car have been designed together starting a couple of years back'

Its like when original Lotus were the first to integrate engine with chassis, the advantage over the rest who still dropped in engines to the chassis was huge.

Also the power train designers will have to work hand in hand with the Chassis designers in the early stages of the season. Much easier when its one team. Mclaren wont be getting much help from mercs powertrain guys and RBR will be sharing Renaults powertrain guys with 2 other teams.

[1Lemon]

I have a sneaking suspicion that we won't actually see that much of a difference between engines. More how the individual cars and drivers get the power down.

[CookinFlat6]

Just out of curiosity, what leads you to that conclusion? Do you mean each of the 3 engines will be matched on reliability and power and weight?
What difference do you think each team can make to how the power is put down?

I ask because even in the V8 era, at the start there was a big difference between the Renaults, Mercs, Cosworth and Ferrari solutions to what was a much more straightforward spec

[Hammer278]

You need to read closely Cookin....he has this "sneaking suspicion".

[CookinFlat6]

ah yes, otherwise known as the Andrew gambit

[1Lemon]

However, a TJ13 source suggests today that Ferrari will unveil their new 2014 V6 Turbo F1 engine in 2 days time – on Thursday December 19th

Ferrari’s big reveal is intended to be a Christmas gift to all the tifosi and we believe the design brief Ferrari have followed is to build an incredibly light engine, with highly innovative and expensive materials.

The lighter the engine the lighter the car and the more ballast options will be available for setting the car up for different circuits.

This means Ferrari are rolling the dice. The more lightweight the engine and the more innovative the materials will have the effect of moving an engine up the unreliability ladder.

[CookinFlat6]

Interesting and brave approach from Ferrari. Is it easier to make a lighter engine reliable or to make a reliable engine lighter?

Good to see they are making good use of their extra 80 million that no one else gets