Renault engine 'really a problem' - Verstappen

Verstappen is correct you could see that all the Renault powered car were effectively sitting ducks for an chasing Hamilton. The speed differential was astonishing. The redbulls stripped an enormous amount of down force of the car to get some kind of competitive speed and although in the race it was to be bad they lost about by almost an second during qualifying.

Verstappen just points out that the Renault PU are not closing the gap towards the front.

Okay. Still reads like the Alonso McLaren stories from last year. We have the best chassis, we would be right up there if we had a better engine, we suck on tracks with lots of straights, watch our performance on twisty tracks, we can only hope for incidents and rain to get good results. Find and replace...

@Light.. difference being that the least of McLaren's issues, as it turns out, was the engine.

Still the third team, the rest is too far behind....

When we get a batch of poorly manufactured blood bags, and have to throw them away, is it our fault for getting them and signing a deal with our supplier, or the fault of our supplier? I get that its rich coming from the team that will sign Honda next year, assuming Honda wont deliver next year (and I think they will overtake Renault but I digress), but Renault has really been selling their customers teddy bears full of cu... ehrm glass ever since the start of the hybrid era. And with the poor services they've frequently given their supplied teams, I think they deserved having Red Bull. I just wish this will be another happy divorce, where Red Bull get a good engine, and Renault gets a rest from RB's pladder.

What nonsense, what do you want RB to say when someone asks them the question. Maybe that their deficit in Silverstone was due to their chassis? You don't have to be a rocket scientist to find out that the Renault engine is much less powerful. It was clearly visible during qualification, and almost every commentator pointed it out. It is not a secret, it is not an accusation, it is just a simple fact and the explanation of why they think they can not challenge for the world title. It is business, not love, and we don't know anything about who has not held up his part of the bargain. But looking at the results I think I have an idea..

I agree with both of you. I am not blind. It's just a bit distasteful timing-wise. Plus, it is not a first time they say that AND they switched their engine supplier, so we kinda get the point. Trash talk only gets you a bad reputation. Just look at McLaren

Maybe, I'll leave the untastefulness and whether its bashing or not to you lot to decide. I'd probably say there is a difference between McLaren a.k.a our chassis is foolproof, and Red Bull, which often have aknowledged when their chassis and so on isnt up to their usual standards (and yes thats no frabrication, RB has multiple times these over the hybrid era aknowledged flaws in their own systems). Another factor to take into consideration when discussing RB's displeasure with Renault vs the McHonda debacle is that Honda, while delivering poor engines to McLaren, actually did deliver decent support and service for their customer. Renault hasnt. Renault has stopped giving out upgrades past the midseason point multiple times, and has "run out of spare parts" a few times.

Seeing as they are almost identical in performance this year (STR being faster on Silverstone straights again I've heard, harr harr), bar the lack of shoddy "out of spares" and sponsor cash, I dont think its a too bad deal. But we'll see. As usual, I'll (try at least to) remain cautiously optimistic, but I do legit think Honda will overtake Renault. RB arent stupid. Even if they love bashing Renault as much as I love bashing politicians and corporations... And Abiteboul... And the current McLiaren... they'd stick with them if they didnt see progress on the Honda side of things.

@Calle Even if your estimations are accurate, I find it distasteful and utterly moronic to bash the engine manufacturer supplying your team when we're not even half way through the season. I don't understand it. It helps no one.

@AJPENNYPACKER, reading the transcript of the interview I don't find any bad mouthing, bashing or anything else wrong with it. Surely RB may state that the engine is not strong enough to compete with Mercedes and Ferrari on circuits where engine power is the determining factor. It is not as if they have taken the statement out of thin air. Why would it be distasteful, it is just facts, not even opinion.

As for why, I don't know, the transcript does not elaborate, but I guess someone asked him the question, he/she wanted to know.

@Hombibi There is no question that the Renault engine is holding them back. However, ever since the Honda announcement, they have complained about Renault in some shape or form in every single GP. I'm not bashing Verstappen, his was actually one of the more mild comments. I'm talking more about Chris Horner, Helmut, and other characters. Why distasteful? Because it's the engine provider that helped them to 4 consecutive championships. Because even if they have not been the best engine, they've been a good partner. Anyway... it doesn't matter anyway.

Untill 2014....thats lightyears in the past.....
Since the hybrid years renault is shit, look at ferrari, they got it working the last 1.5 years, so why not renault? If you pay good money for shitty engines you have the right to complain. Since honda left the size zero concept 2 years ago they make big steps and are more or less as competitive as the renault who dont make the steps as promised...
Going tuo honda is the best step for reddbull, they are not stupid and have the numbers...

Mercedes and Ferrari will never supply them with engines, regardless of whether they like them or not. They wiill never risk being beaten by a RB with their own engine. So it is only Renault, and Honda.

Renault has never delivered a current spec engine as powerfull as Mercedes or Ferrari. Why anyone gets upset when Red Bull explains that their Renault engine delivers significantly less power than Mercedes or Ferrari is totally beyond me. It is just facts. I would be surprised if Renault would be insulted. It is not as if RB is making up a story here...

Considering how much they were behind in qualifying that’s about right. Mercedes and Ferrari had made far bigger improvements than Renault. At sometime you need an change if you are behind and that's what really drives RB. Verstappen is stating the obvious here. Every year Renault promises to be closer to Mercedes/Ferrari and every year they falter. Mercedes/Ferrari don't want to sell their PU only because it would put their main team in trouble. But it's OK for RB to sign up with Honda since the majority of F1 fans don't really believes that Honda will be an main contender (I do not adhere to this thought an think that Honda could well be).

On your point though it must be said that the RB chassis will need adjusting to the PU characteristics since this is so tightly integrated in F1. The chassis must be extremely good in producing mechanical grip since they are so competitive in Monaco.

After 2020 the engines will become more manageable for PU producers so Cosworth or others will come to the grid.

I like your point of view, it surely applies for McLaren, because they fell through the floor this year. But does it apply to RedBulll? They are consistently much faster then any other Renault powered car, so that must be due to the chassis. And they are able to challenge, and even win from the highest powered cars on circuits where power is not the key differentiator. That would also lead to conclusion that their chassis is very strong. So the question is then, what would happen if you put a strong engine in the RB chassis. I think everyone wants to see that. But maybe not Mercedes and Ferrari....

The point of our rants or Red Bull's?
Red Bull: its them explaining why they basically had very little chance of winning this weekend.
Us: its an interesting topic worth discussing. The deal is penned, but regardless its interesting to talk about it. :)