Having admitted that thus far his entire season has been "crap", news that Renault will not be introducing a significant upgrade until next year has left Max Verstappen fearing another year of the same.

Speaking in the wake of Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix which saw the youngster retire after 10 laps with a loss of power, Verstappen told Ziggo Sport: "I could have finished second... or third, if things turned out a little bit less for me. It's completely crap, really."

Asked about the prospects for Baku, he sighed: "I don't care too much. The whole season has already been crap."

However, following Cyril Abiteboul's admission that there will not be a major upgrade to the Renault power unit until next year, Verstappen is fearing another tough season.

"I want to win," he told Dutch TV show Peptalk. "I think the team is able to do this, absolutely. You can see that the car has improved a lot, but now the power has to arrive as well.

"But this year nothing is coming, as you've probably read, so I’m concerned about that. They did promise this, but in the end little has arrived in terms of updates this year. That’s very disappointing. And I’m concerned about next year."

Talking to the official F1 website, though confirming that there will be continued improvements to the power unit, Abiteboul claimed that Renault never promised a major upgrade this year.

"It was Red Bull who said that there would be an upgrade in Baku," he said. "There are upgrades permanently, every single race we are making some small improvements.

"Last year we created a huge expectation and we came with an upgrade that had a big impact," he continued. "But we can't repeat that every year. Now it is all about constant improvements which overall will make a difference, but there is no magic bullet. Every race the engine will become more and more reliable with the program on the dyno progressing.

"Frankly the next big upgrade will be next year. Then we will have a completely new concept. That will make a difference, but as I said 2018."

"This year we wanted to go for the title, as a team, but we are far away from that," sighed Verstappen.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Paul C, 16/06/2017 16:41

"Max, at least your whole car is competitive. The Honda powered cars are moving chicanes. They need to be used to enforce the virtual caution flags."

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2. Posted by Thomas1, 16/06/2017 4:31

"It is depressing to hear Renault F1 has no break-thru in speed improvement this year. A few possibilities exist to correct this situation.

1) To bring the next year "Big Bang" update into this year's Engine Architecture by working 24 by 7 like Mercedes did recently and use Toro and Renault F1 as racing test beds for real-world testing/development cycle in addition to dyno testing. If you have tested the update for next year why wait for one year. Do it now.and try to win the races.
2) To get outside consulting help from MecaChrome and CosWorth.
3) To rehire the former Renault engine Supremo Jean-Jacques His from Ferrari for consulting.
4) Hand over the current Renault F1 engine (outright sale by F1 ) .as a "benchmark' engine to a set of independent engine builders like CosWorth, MecaChrome and other British engine builders forming a "F1 Engine Builders Association". It will be a consortium that will be in charge for the entire engine complex. Such an engine from the new independent builders can be used by Red Bull and other teams that want a winning engine.
5) The evolution Renault F1 engine powering Renault F1 team and Toro can continue to develop at Renault F1 DEVELopment speed. From a development point of view, one may call it "Honda 2". Please do not mistake me. I am a "Renault F1" fan from 1990 and still I am.
6) Personally, we need a engine wizard at the top of Renault F1 Development who can do magic like John JacqueHis with his "110 degree V angle V10 engine" F1 winner. Doing the Impossible should be an everyday's work for that team!"

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3. Posted by Yeyox02, 15/06/2017 19:36

"RBR strategy for this and next year.
Plan A: Stay with Renault waiting one day they will deliver. Crap as Verstappen said.
Plan B: Going to Honda. A misery too because they do not know what to do to fix their mess.
Plan C: Looking for an independent engine supplier. WHO?
Plan D: Geting out of F1. Whe someone rely on others this is the fate. Then the circle gets closed in plan A."

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Verstappen expecting continuing crap in 2018

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