The managing director of Renault Sport F1 believes that Redbull should also shoulder blame for a subpar chassis this season:
http://www.eurosport...974/story.shtml
Does the RB10 have the best chassis? "asks the French manager in the columns of the magazine Auto Hebdo, published on Wednesday . " It is said to be very sensitive to adjustments, unbalanced, has a delicate operation of tires. Well, it is true that with more power, you can put more downforce and with more downforce, the chassis gains in stability and in keeping tires. This is why we must get out of this reciprocal permanent indictment to better work together and achieve the best performance in turn, more than the best engine power. "
"As soon as we want to enter into a closer relationship, it is very complicated"
Asked how he felt about the union with Red Bull Racing, Cyril Abiteboul does not really show satisfaction. " Let's be clear, this is not good , he considers . We are unable to take our partnership to the level where I would like it to be: in terms of technology, marketing, respect, trust, transparency, positioning ... But I know well and I have a huge respect for what they do and what they built. The problem is probably in this success and in the method. They operate either in the role of the absolute control of what they produce or in that of absolute customer waiting for the supply of finished product delivered, performance and optimal reliability and, if possible cheap. As soon as the we want to enter into a closer relationship, it's very complicated. "
" Some couples may very well live well and others less well. For me it is a real disappointment. It is one of the goals I had set my roadmap back in Viry-Châtillon. Certainly, there is progress, but it is marginal , "he concludes.
I've always been amazed that Horner laid the blame for their performance for 100% at the door of Renault, while it's easy to conclude that the lack of a works relationship will impact on integration and thus chassis design.
Abiteboul goes on to say he's still not happy with the level of cooperation due the distrust that exists.
Are Redbull trying too hard to protect their IP at the cost of an optimal relationship with Renault?
No wonder Horner is pushing for a standard engine.