Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Renault Done With Trying to Keep Up With Mercedes



Less than halfway through the 2014 F1 season, it appears that Renault is giving up on its efforts to try and catch the Mercedes power units. 

There is no doubt that the French manufacturer has struggled to keep up with the outstanding performance that Mercedes has put forth this season. Even though they are second in the Constructors Championship, Renault is sitting 158 points behind Mercedes. Many top notch teams have struggled to adjust to the regulation changes that the FIA put forth for the 2014 season. But no one expected the 4-time consecutive Constructors Champions to fall off the way they have. 

Infiniti Red Bull Racing has made it clear that they are not pleased with Renault’s performance, and were considering other engine options for 2015 and beyond. 

Renault F1 engine chief, Rob White stated in Autosprint, "We are pushing for next year in order to have a greater scope of development.”

"At the moment it is not possible to change the specification of the power unit without the permission of the FIA, and the federation does not give any permissions for performance reasons," Rob White clarified. 

While their performance is off balance this season, they appear to be making gains. Renault has had five podium finishes, including a win at the Canadian Grand Prix. While yes, it’s a bit late to try and catch Mercedes, it’s never too late for improvement. 

The ninth round in the 2014 Formula One World Championship takes place this weekend, July 4th-6th, at the Silverstone Circuit in Silverstone, United Kingdom. 


-Dallas Hollins 

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Photo Credit: Sutton Images