It's fair to say that following last year's pre-season test at Jerez, some would have raised an eyebrow had Renault said it was aiming to complete 5 laps in Melbourne, such was the dismal performance from almost all its teams at the Spanish track.

However, little by little things improved and by season end the French manufacturer's power unit was widely seen as the second most successful out there, indeed, Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo was the only other driver, other than Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, to stand atop the podium.

Buoyed not only by the way it turned things around last season but also its success in terms of the change of heart covering engine development in 2015, Renault F1 managing director, Cyril Abiteboul says the French manufacturer is targeting at least five wins this season.

"We estimate that our gap to Mercedes at the end of the 2014 season was about 60bhp," he told France's Canal+. "We hope to close this gap by half at Melbourne.

"Unlike Mercedes, we will start the 2015 season with the 2015 version of our engine," he continued. "To date, we have used about two-thirds of allowed tokens to change our engine this year. My goal is to claim at least five wins this season."

The French manufacturer, which had threatened to walk away from F1, had the new formula not been introduced, is also willing to listen to Bernie Ecclestone's calls for a more powerful unit, providing such a move does not drive costs higher.

"Renault will not object to the idea of Bernie Ecclestone, to make engines more powerful, and to make more sound," said Abiteboul, "as long as costs remain under control.

"The idea is attractive," he admitted, "but it seems that it is already too late for 2016. However, 2017 is ideal timing."

The news however, comes too late for Lotus - which in another guise was owned by the French manufacturer - but which will now use Mercedes power units this season.

Chris Balfe

LATEST NEWS

more news >

LATEST IMAGES

galleries >

Click to go to the main galleries section

READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Hondawho?, 28/01/2015 9:36

" "White Lightning, 27/01/2015 9:43
maybe we'll see the re-emergence of a more down-to-earth racing environment."

Chariot racing, now there is something we have not seen for a long time! They have not managed to electrify a horse yet thats for sure!"

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

2. Posted by White Lightning, 27/01/2015 9:43

"I think Hondawho has hit on something fundamental there - and it's a problem affecting the entire motor industry, not just its sporting arm.

These days, everything is utilitarian.

Think about it. The vast majority of top-level motorsport is now about road technology transfer. Anything with no obvious benefit to the wider industry is withering on the vine, like international rallying and many of the big feeder formulae.

Even within the industry, when was the last time a true, all-out, balls to the wall mental car was produced in even small-batch numbers by anyone other than a small independent? The supercars of today are built with useful little cubby-holes and a top of the line air-con and in-drive entertainment system.

For these reasons, the world is gradually becoming aware of the absolute pointlessness of 20 blokes going round 3-5 miles of track in bespoke, redundant carbon fibre bathtubs about 20 times a year for a cost that makes Greece's debt look like ten bob lent until payday.

I agree with Hondawho - I just can't seen the sport lasting much longer than dear old BC Ecclestone, either through general financial collapse or, more likely, through your common-or-garden power vacuum civil war.

But it's not all doom and gloom - maybe we'll see the re-emergence of a more down-to-earth racing environment."

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

3. Posted by Hondawho?, 27/01/2015 8:43

"Its not the cars that is the problem, the sport is an anachronism and needs to move into the 21st century.

A vehicle can only drive up to a certain speed on four tyres with a human at the wheel, that limit has been IMHO, reached. (The new circuits are required because of this issue).

Its not only F1 its ALL motorsport.

Touring cars are boring as they all look the same, (is there a Renault WTCC car? The WTCC site does not even tell you) and once more, there is only so much you can do on four tyres with a human driving. make the cars Radio controlled and have the fans backing via social media LOL, at least its one suggestion ............

F1 is an event and that is what BE is trying to tell everyone but, many, me included some times as I am old, gets caught up in this "it must be noisy argument.

I am sure the sport is being steered into BE's final years and when he goes I am pretty sure the sport will die with him. We are being led by committee these days and if you allow F1 to be run by a committee, forget it.

This maybe Renault's last year perhaps?"

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

4. Posted by yeyox, 26/01/2015 21:33

"Dreams!"

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

5. Posted by Paul C, 26/01/2015 20:47

"If Renault can clone Daniel Ricciardo five wins are possible. They could improve the sound by powering a speaker with the hybrid stuff. Vroom, vroom, vroom!"

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

Abiteboul: Renault targeting five wins in 2015

LATEST NEWS

RELATED ARTICLES

LATEST IMAGES

POST A COMMENT

Post your comment

READERS COMMENTS

Share this page