16/01/2017
NEWS STORY
Already planning new engine for 2017, Renault will also revamp its Energy Recovery System
On the back of a dramatic turnaround in fortune in 2016, which saw Renault put the engine misery of 2015 well and truly behind it, the French manufacturer is aiming to take another significant step forward this season.
Having already announced that it has completely redesigned its power unit, the French manufacturer has revealed that its Energy Recovery System (ERS) is to also get an overhaul.
"This year we want to confirm the turnaround of the situation on the engine," managing director Cyril Abiteboul told fans in Birmingham at the weekend, according to Motorsport.com. "Last year was really fantastic, and we need to confirm that.
"We are going to have an all-new architecture on the internal combustion engine, and also be introducing for the first time the second generation of Energy Recovery System," he continued.
The change to the ERS comes courtesy of a closer relationship with Infiniti, part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, as opposed to outsourcing much of the work.
Previously, Infiniti had been title sponsor at Red Bull, but that ended in 2015 amidst the very public criticism of Renault which almost saw the Austrian team quit the sport - or not, according to Dietrich Mateschitz.
Now, as one might expect, it is the Renault which sports the Infiniti logo as it also reaps the technical rewards of the alliance.
"Frankly it is really the start of our relationship," said Abiteboul. "Last year was done a little bit in a rush to a certain degree, although Infiniti was already prepared because some of that was just a transfer of what was in existence between Red Bull and Renault Sport.
"But for the rest we are building blocks," he continued, "blocks which I hope are healthy foundations for the future and the next 5-10 years, which is the extent of time we have to think of any F1 involvement."
While the previous ERS was not really an issue, Abiteboul believes the revamp will pay off.
"There are an awful lot of collateral aspects to consider," he said, "like weight, packaging, cooling requirements, plus the intensity of the current that you can use in certain conditions, in particular climatic conditions. There are certain things that look like they are secondary, but in F1 nothing is secondary. Once you have reached the top, which is an MGU that can deliver 120KW, you still need to think about these extra elements if you want make your way and reach the top as a team."