Verstappen slams 'sh-t' Renault engine

<< Return to the news list

Published on 30 Jul 2018 10:46
11
By: Jeroen Jonkers

Max Verstappen has lashed out at Renault.

In Hungary, the Dutchman was the latest to suffer due to a reliability problem with his Renault power unit.

For 2019, Red Bull is switching to Honda.

"We pay millions for this engine. But what we get is just sh-t," Verstappen told Bild newspaper, following his foul-mouthed radio tirade.

The 20-year-old said that, in addition to poor reliability, "We lack power".

Also furious was Verstappen's boss Christian Horner.

"I guess we shouldn't be surprised anymore," he said in Hungary.

"But we pay Renault many millions for these engines and it's not a premium product."

Freguz

Posts: 160

Even the Honda engine seems more reliable nowadays...

2
Jul 30 2018 - 20:20

F1 News Max Verstappen Renault Honda

Replies (11)

talktohenry

Posts: 362
It's also strange why they blow, yet works teams engines seem to be more reliable?
- + 0
- Jul 30 2018 - 12:46
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  I've noticed. Now it isnt really uncommon, looking at it all of the customers have the same kinda situation, with Haas and Sauber experiencing more engine woes than Ferrari, and with the Merc' teams in a similar situation, so not sure if its all that weird though. Mind, running different fuel and oil compared to the works team along with different cooling and so on could maybe worsen the problems?
  + 0
  
  Jul 30 2018 - 16:43
- RogerF1
  
  Posts: 501
  Yep, i can buy into the fuel, etc. that pulls a good few more hp than their counterparts but also maybe drivers that push the envelope that little bit harder. Plus, a car with more grip/downforce will put that extra grind on the engine instead of spinning the tyres up?
  + 0
  
  Jul 30 2018 - 19:10
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Can you push more than what Hulk generally does though? But yes, having drivers that are pushier, and maybe less skilled with engine management (not saying any of them are though) could explain it further. But IMO Renault hasnt either really been saved from the retirements enough to explain anything. Could be bad luck for all we know. Also, incidents like Baku surely didnt help engine life. Do Red Bull have a different gearbox compared to works Renault?
  
  As for the last part: its interesting, but Im not sure. IMO, a car with more grip should in theory be more efficient, therefore engine wear should be less? A car with better aero tend to be more fuel efficient with the same engine as a car with worse aero, and cars with better grip tend to likewise be less fuel intense. And IMO, less fuel use means less engine use, which leads to less engine wear? Or is my thinking flawed?
  + 0
  
  Jul 30 2018 - 19:48
Bhurt

Posts: 320
He's right. This Tag Heuer engine is shit.
- + 1
- Jul 30 2018 - 15:44
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Do you tend to differentiate between Renault and TAG, or is it just a one time thing?
  + 0
  
  Jul 30 2018 - 19:49
- Bhurt
  
  Posts: 320
  I refer to it as Tag Heuer when they lose and Renault when they win.
  + 0
  
  Jul 30 2018 - 20:57
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
For Renault to still have MGU-K issues after all these years... I mean I get the electric bits are advanced, dont get me wrong, but F1 has had MGU-K's for quite a while now, and standardized or not earlier its still weird to me that they still havent sorted it out. I can get the MGU-H, but the MGU-K? Now I just hope Honda seizes on this, and steps it up.
- + 1
- Jul 30 2018 - 16:45
Freguz

Posts: 160
Even the Honda engine seems more reliable nowadays...
- + 2
- Jul 30 2018 - 20:20
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  I dunno. I'd like to believe it, but both STR's has taken 5 of some components, more than any other team this far. At least one swap was due to the early MGU-H woes, which Honda amended pretty quickly, and about one of Hartley's swaps can be explained by taking too much damage from the crash in Canada. The rest could be parts they've taken but not broken. But as of now, Honda is probably still behind.
  + 0
  
  Jul 30 2018 - 20:40
- boudy
  
  Posts: 1,168
  The Renault power plant has been very unreliable and under powered compared to the others ever since the new rules. Looks like at the moment it's the Ferrari PU that has the advantage over all considering force India and Williams are now pushed towards the back of the field. Renault's lack of investment caused their demise and their return to F1 seems to be paying some divident.
  
  As like mcLaren now Redbull have lost the confidence their PU supplier. Will Renault catch up with the leading PU? I am unsure if mcLaren is better off with Renault. However Honda is still unproven at the moment but they seem to have a better performance increase than Renault.
  + 1
  
  Jul 31 2018 - 07:37