Objectives “not entirely accomplished” on Renault’s side

Rob White, Deputy Managing Director (Technical) of Renault Sport F1, discussed in an interview published by the brand with the diamond logo the second private testing session that took place at the end of last week on the Sakhir circuit in Bahrain.

White acknowledged that not all the goals set before testing have been met, but even though it will be complicated before the first race, which will take place in Melbourne on March 16, he remains optimistic because he also knows there is still time to catch up.

How did this second practice session in Bahrain go for Renault?

During this last session before the season opener in Melbourne, we had two specific objectives: to make up for lost time during previous tests and to conduct a dress rehearsal before the Australian Grand Prix. We wanted each of our four teams to approach this first race weekend optimally, without having to improvise in terms of procedures and operational modes. It must be acknowledged that we were not able to achieve all of our objectives with all the teams. Some preparations for Melbourne were not fully completed. The positive point is that we managed to work on all sectors by conducting qualifying, race, start, and long-run simulations. Once again, we made real progress.

We have resolved some of the previously identified problems or found clever solutions to circumvent them. However, new setbacks have emerged to slow our progress over the kilometers traveled, adding to the list of obstacles to overcome. This obviously does not make the task easier for our teams, and I understand their disappointment.

Did you encounter any major issues during this practice session?

Regarding the lost time, we note that an apparently minor incident can turn into a major problem and cause a significant delay. This is due to the youth of our propulsion system; it does not yet have the safety mechanisms and other backup modes that should normally be integrated at this stage of preparation. This situation means that we lose driving time as soon as a problem arises. As we make progress, we will be able to cope with it and no longer experience significant delays following a minor incident.

On track, the youth of our engine is revealed in the form of a deficiency in torque distribution and driving smoothness. As a result, drivers find it more challenging to discover the car’s performance limits.

What are the main lessons you learned from the pre-season winter testing?

We are beginning to approach the configuration we had envisioned after the tests conducted on our test benches in Viry-Châtillon. We have improved the level of performance at which the power unit can evolve, and made significant progress in terms of energy management over a lap. Furthermore, we have also taken a major step forward in addressing the issues affecting our control systems.

What is now your roadmap before Melbourne?

By the first Grand Prix, we have several objectives to achieve. First, we must refine all the observations collected from all the teams. We need to study all the accumulated data, compare and nuance them to offer the best possible working base to the teams powered by Renault. Then, we must continue our progress in the area of the torque distribution of our power unit as felt by the drivers. This will require work on calibration and software improvement, with validation on the simulator and test bench. Finally, we will have to tackle the logistical challenge of constructing and transporting the power units to Australia. This phase is already well underway and will be concluded next week.

Has the Renault Energy F1-2014 power unit been subjected to the official FIA homologation procedure?

Yes, all the necessary documents as well as a reference powertrain have been submitted to the FIA in compliance with the sporting regulations.

What do you hope to accomplish in Melbourne?

We will inevitably be a bit tense! It would be a great relief to see our teams run both their cars smoothly in every session, essentially to see them experience a normal race weekend. I sincerely hope that we can provide full support to the teams and drivers so they can explore the performance of their car and face the outcome on the track with serenity.

[From the press release issued by Renault Sport F1]