Renault says Red Bull made them take a gamble in Aus

[John S]

So why are Bulls complaining loudly when it went wrong?      

The very public criticism from RBR, if the parner was doing what was asked, must mean divorce is in the air. 
Hey maybe that's why Renault are looking at Torro Rosso to keep the kids engines in. 

Renault has revealed it took an unusually-aggressive approach to the 2015 season opener, at works partner Red Bull's behest.

Amid Red Bull's disastrous start to the new world championship in Australia, the energy drink-owned team lashed out at Renault for taking a "retrograde" step both in the power and reliability stakes.

Now, Renault is hitting back.

"We had a last-minute engine development," said Cyril Abiteboul, "in which we bypassed our normal quality and test bench validation processes.

"It was these changes that caused the problems in Melbourne, and it is what we are now focusing on at the factory prior to Sepang," he told the French daily L'Equipe.

Abiteboul claimed: "We were very aggressive because Red Bull wanted us to develop fiercely. Now we have to ask ourselves how we could forget our traditional methods.

"So far, we have followed and listened to the directives of Red Bull, but clearly the chassis and the engine are two different universes.

"Everybody should be able to do his job in peace," Abiteboul insisted.

Grandprix.com, Today.

[cosworth151]

The intramural feuds are starting early this season. This should make for quite a show @ Sepang. It will be interesting to watch the interactions between the Renault & RBR folks.

[Alianora La Canta]

Red Bull is going to have problems getting the best of anyone if they keep on like this. I can see them being forced into either a Ferrari or Honda link as Renault gets fed up of them and buys Toro Rosso (since with Toro Rosso and Lotus, I don't think Renault is obliged to continue working with Red Bull).

[lkjohnson1950]

Hey Alia, I think Lotus is running Mercedes engines this year aren't they?

[Alianora La Canta]

So they are. I keep forgetting that!

[Scott]

that's why Grosjean has high hopes this year of showing off.

[F1fanaticBD]

Didn't Lotus accused Renault for the preferential treatment of Red Bull, one of the reason they say they struggled in 2014. So now Renault is saying they were aggressive because Red Bull asked them to? Who was asking before, and without that push what else do you have as your modus operandi? 

[Irisado]

If this story is true, Christian Horner really ought to stop complaining so much about the engine rules and regulations and that Renault is stopping Red Bull from winning.

[cosworth151]

One race in and Renault is already throwing in the towel for 2015. Renault F1's managing director Cyril Abiteboul said, "A race-winning engine on merit is not something that is going to happen this year, we know that."

http://www.racer.com/f1/item/114693-renault-no-race-winning-engine-in-2015

[Scott]

Ok, not on merit.  Now, can we cheat and get there??   

[Jericoke]

Ok, not on merit.  Now, can we cheat and get there??   

The true spirit of F1!

[Scott]

It's only cheating if you get caught...

[Jericoke]

It's only cheating if you get caught...

... and you happen to be on Todt's bad side that day.

[cosworth151]

It's getting really, really nasty now.

Cyril Abiteboul, chief of Renault's F1 engine program, fired a broadside back at RBR. When asked if it is difficult to hear Newey say the only problem with the RB11 is the engine, Abiteboul admitted, "Yes. It's hard to have a partner who lies. Adrian is a charming gentleman and an outstanding engineer, but he has spent his life criticizing his engine manufacturers. And he's too old to change."

Here in Appalachia, that kind of talk cause someone to go all Jeremy Clarkson on the person that said it.   

http://autoweek.com/article/formula-one/renault-f1-engine-boss-calls-red-bulls-adrian-newey-liar

[Scott]

Here in Appalachia, that kind of talk cause someone to go all Jeremy Clarkson on the person that said it.   

I think you've coined a new phrase, Cossy