user icon
icon

No solution for Renault piston fault in next six weeks

link-icon
<< Return to the news list
No solution for Renault piston fault in next six weeks
A fault with the piston design of Renault's 2015 engine has been identified, according to the French broadcaster Canal Plus. Problems across both Renault-powered teams, Red Bull and Toro Rosso, marred the French marque's weekend in China last weekend.

Boss Cyril Abiteboul departed Shanghai saying he hoped a fix could be identified and put in place in time for Bahrain, despite the turnaround of mere days. But the latest news is alarming, as Canal Plus reports that the issue is in fact a fundamental flaw with the actual piston. Abiteboul is quoted as saying there can be "no solution within the next six weeks".

Ferrari technical director James Allison commented: "Problems with the power unit are the last thing you want, because the production time of the parts is so long."

As for improving the actual lagging performance of the engine, Abiteboul insisted Renault must be wise in spending its remaining 'tokens' this year. "Engine technology," he said, "is not something you can change overnight after a bad race. We have a plan for the use of our tokens this year, so we should not rush headlong into decisions that may not be the best for the long term."

Interestingly, the heat appears to have gone out of Red Bull's earlier stinging criticism of Renault, as the parties knuckle down to improving in 2015. "As Ferrari has shown, you can turn things around when you have clear goals and direction," team boss Christian Horner is quoted by Italy's Tuttosport.

"If you look at the facts, it is not a great moment for us," he acknowledged, "but Renault is a great company with capable people and a long history of success in formula one. At the moment something is not working, but we will help Renault to understand what the problems are -- at the moment this is the highest priority." (GMM)
F1 News Ferrari Renault

Replies (0)

Login to reply

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

More news

Test calendar

Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing

Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing

Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2026

Pos
Team
Points
1
Mercedes
219
2
Ferrari
149
3
McLaren
106
4
Red Bull Racing
57
5
Alpine F1
33
6
Racing Bulls
21
7
Haas F1
19
8
Williams
7
9
Audi
2
Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
China
Shanghai International Circuit
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
China Shanghai International Circuit
27 - Mar 29
Japan Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
See full schedule

Team profile

Ferrari
Ferrari
Show full profile
show sidebar