08/01/2016
NEWS STORY
When the planned introduction of the new engine formula began to falter, mainly due to Bernie Ecclestone's fears that it was the wrong way to go, it was Renault that spearheaded the drive to press ahead with the plan, threatening to walk away from the sport (groan) unless F1 went turbo hybrid.
Ignoring the fact that the new formula has proven prohibitively expensive, and has gone down like a damp squib with most fans and drivers, there is also the little matter that Renault, in particular, has produced an absolute clunker.
No real surprise therefore, to hear managing director Cyril Abiteboul admit that the new engine formula has failed.
"Hybrid regulations are important, not just to Renault but to any car maker," said the Frenchman, according to Motorsport.com. "If you look at the future product line of most brands, you will see hybrid elements on all cars.
"If you ask me about this particular set of regulations, how important they are, we should not be precious," he admitted. "I am not completely convinced that we have the engine regulations that are completely fit for purpose for the model of modern F1. For the show, for the cost for the manufacturer, for price for the team, also noise and serviceability and so on and so forth.
"Also there is all the sporting elements associated with it, like the token system, which is extremely confusing, and the penalty system, which is extremely confusing. I don't think we have something brilliant.
"Having said that, do we need to write this off completely or improve what needs to be improved and fix what needs to be fixed rather than trying to come up with something completely new? I'm not quite sure.
"The problem is when we try to come up with something completely new, which is trying to be a breakthrough in comparison to what we had before, it is not necessarily brilliant. The regular thing is evolution rather than radical changes. It is very difficult to anticipate what will be the effect of radical change. But we are completely open to change in the regulations."
Something to bear in mind whilst the geniuses that came up with this 'unfit fit for purpose' show ponder the next raft of rule changes.