Renault has defended the legality of its 2018 car's exhaust layout. At the rear of the yellow and black car, the engine exhaust is pointed upwards towards the rear wing, which has been reinforced with heat resistant material.
And after running, the rear wing shows signs of heat charring, indicating that Renault is benefitting from outlawed exhaust 'blowing'.
But technical boss Nick Chester said: "I have not heard any complaints. You can arrange the exhaust in various ways and we have just put it closer to the top of the bodywork. On most of the cars, the exhaust gas flow is directed more or less towards the wing, which is why we've developed a solution to make the most of the opportunities that the regulations allow."
"If the exhaust pipe is located where it is allowed to be, I don't see the problem," he added.
Renault defends legality of 2018 exhaust
- Published on 10 Mar 2018 11:55
-
18
- By: Danny Sosef
Trending news
-
Verstappen's Worst Season Start in Ten Years: The Numbers Behind the Slump
Three races in, Max Verstappen has twelve points and sits ninth in the world championship. By his own exceptional sta...
03 Apr 2026 16:14 -
Drivers' WhatsApp Group Has "Exploded" as GPDA Confirms Widespread Frustration With 2026 Rules
The discontent among Formula 1 drivers over the 2026 regulations is not a Max Verstappen problem. It is a paddock-wid...
03 Apr 2026 14:58 -
Windsor Predicts Verstappen Will Leave F1: "The Rules Have Reduced Him to an Ordinary Driver"
Peter Windsor has gone further than most analysts in his assessment of Max Verstappen's future. The veteran journ...
03 Apr 2026 13:57 -
Reconstruction: Antonelli Is Creating a Verstappen-Style Culture Shock at Mercedes
Formula 1 appears to have a new prodigy. Andrea Kimi Antonelli has won his first two races in China and Japan, taken ...
03 Apr 2026 12:58 -
Argentina Is Seriously Pursuing a Return to the Formula 1 Calendar
Franco Colapinto has done something for Argentine motorsport that no amount of marketing could replicate: he has made...
03 Apr 2026 11:56
Replies (18)
Login to reply-
-
Why haven’t they banned the double barrel shotgun underneath, presuming it’s a deterrent to the competition getting too close? Very 007 but not very subtle.
That said, looks a bit of a Brawn double diffuser move, smart exploitation of the rules, that’s what innovation is all about. They’ll ban it for sure.- + 1
- Mar 10 2018 - 16:16
-
Having a skip through testing photos these smaller pipes are there on RB, Merc, Williams and Force India. Were they there last season? Other teams have them either side or partially below not fully. Only Renault looks like a double barrel shotgun.
Hope Seb doesn’t do a ‘Hammy’ manoeuvre on a Renault!- + 0
- Mar 11 2018 - 01:10
-
The smaller exhaust pipes seen below the big one on the Renault and on either side on the other cars were added last season, or the season before that. I believe it was fore one reason: to increase the noise from the engines. Don't think it as anything to do with performance, it was to satisfy the noise complaints. SMH...
- + 1
- Mar 11 2018 - 09:30
-
Is it allowed to reduce exhaust pipe cross section? (I feel too lazy to read regulations today)
They create nozzle to even father increase speed of flow to reduce pressure under the wing.- + 0
- Mar 11 2018 - 15:32
-
Guys the extra pipes you see are the wastegate exhaust which makes the PUs louder since 2017. So I think it’s a requirement within the rules.
- + 0
- Mar 11 2018 - 18:40
-
Exhaust pipes have been regulated since 1997. Inside diameter, direction and length. The trick is to "tune" them to maximum efficiency - the more bends in the pipe = more back pressure. Furthermore, the pipes may not be interconnected as to create a Venturi effect. The extreme upward angle takes advantage of low speed aero downforce , because of the limited underbody/diffuser air flow.
- + 0
- Mar 11 2018 - 23:43
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
Test calendar
Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
World Championship standings 2026
Related news
Give your opinion!
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Team profile
- Team name Renault
- Base Enstone, France
- Fernando Alonso 1
- Daniel Ricciardo 3
- Fernando Alonso 5
- Fernando Alonso 5
- Fernando Alonso 7
- Romain Grosjean 8
- Fernando Alonso 8
- Fernando Alonso 8
- Pastor Maldonado 13
- Jenson Button 15
- Kevin Magnussen 20
- Nico Hülkenberg 27
- Jolyon Palmer 30
- Esteban Ocon 31
- Carlos Sainz jr 55
236,937 comments on Renault
26 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Renault

Hepp
Posts: 200
Current technical PU regulations state,"Engines exhaust systems must have a single tailpipe for the turbine and either one or two tailpipes for the wastegate."