IMO they can modify the monocoque to put it in the 2021 car, on the paper, similar to Mclaren... but Remy Taffin implied that this next gen PU will have a completely different cooling system and strategies and that it can not work with the 2020 cooling. And Renault can not modify the 2020 monocoque AND cooling system with only two tokens... And Abiteboul said this:
"I can tell you that he was really impressed by all the changes in Viry," said Abiteboul. "All the new people, the energy, the drive, the determination that there is in Viry, developing a new PU for what is now 2022.
IMO they can modify the monocoque to put it in the 2021 car, on the paper, similar to Mclaren... but Remy Taffin implied that this next gen PU will have a completely different cooling system and strategies and that it can not work with the 2020 cooling. And Renault can not modify the 2020 monocoque AND cooling system with only two tokens... And Abiteboul said this:
The removal of Carlos Ghosn and the French Minister of the Economy (Bruno Le Maire) saying Renault's survival is at stake seem to have unleashed the Kraken (i.e. they're finally realizing it's a waste to do F1 if they don't give the team the right ressources)...
But this image tend to prove your point, Renault spares no expenses now. Look at this high-end real size chassis car mockup that has been completely 3d printed and CNC machined down to the last detail. It has many removable panels too to facilitate the driver seat fitting, the pedal set-up etc.
Sam Collins talks about it here and he notices some interesting details on the car, like the sensors (05:33) the team placed inside the two roll hoop intakes... this suggests the the team might be planning some changes in that area.
They did the same in the 2017 post season Abu Dhabi tests where they placed a big amount of aero sensors (and even wool tuft on Hulkenberg's helmet) to study the air flow behind his helmet...
And a few months later the 2018 car was born with this
IMO they can modify the monocoque to put it in the 2021 car, on the paper, similar to Mclaren... but Remy Taffin implied that this next gen PU will have a completely different cooling system and strategies and that it can not work with the 2020 cooling. And Renault can not modify the 2020 monocoque AND cooling system with only two tokens... And Abiteboul said this:
Can they modify it this season without tokens or are the cars already homologated?
Sam Collins talks about it here and he notices some interesting details on the car, like the sensors (05:33) the team placed inside the two roll hoop intakes... this suggests the the team might be planning some changes in that area.
They did the same in the 2017 post season Abu Dhabi tests where they placed a big amount of aero sensors (and even wool tuft on Hulkenberg's helmet) to study the air flow behind his helmet...
And a few months later the 2018 car was born with this
So my theory about the CCS and the possible future changes isnt completely foolish after all
Driver position
I think the aerodynamicist might cut Ocon down a few inches if they were left in a room with him... Much to Ocon's horror . The boundary layer from his helmet is doing wonders for the air inlet (/sarcasm)
Can they modify it this season without tokens or are the cars already homologated?
Yes the monocoque and the cooling* have been frozen/homologated a long time ago. But it seems the regulations have been modified regarding the cooling. Now it says only the "water-oil or water-water coolers" are frozen !? So the teams can modify the intercoolers for free... and maybe some of the others coolers too...
It would seem reasonable that if McLaren are able to switch to a Merc PU for 2021then Renault should be able to make a PU change as well. The scope of the changes required to move to a split turbo should be comparable in both cases. Assumiming the the new PU is ready, 2021 would seem the perfect time to develop it on track in terms of cooling and mapping. Since McLaren will be gone they won't have any customer issues with the switch either.
Yeah, a 2021 introduction of that PU might be possible after all.
And looking at that intake https://i.imgur.com/JlWrWTE.jpg it looks very low, even lower than the Honda. So if this engine is placed in the car as is, it would be fed by a low rollhoop intake... and the current Renault conveniently has one
Hard to not to get too excited by these developments. I remember a few years back Prost saying somewhat wistfully that Renault didn't have a car ready for the talents of Alonso. Seems as though things are coming together very nicely. Especially with the on track improvement already taking place this year.
The last update (bottom) BB, boumerang, "Dupont" vanes.
That floor spec appeared in Hungary but it seems Renault never raced it before Sotchi and the validation of this new aero...
Alburaq, thank you for giving us interesting insights into Renault. So, what about its recent front suspension developments? I have heard there was a break though...
All I know is that Matt Harmann said this, shortly before Silverstone2:
We have some interesting mechanical developments to go on the car in very specific areas. This will allow us to improve our performance, and also help our understanding for next year's car, which is an evolution of the current one.
-
And then AMuS wrote this
Ricciardo praised the steps that Renault himself had taken during the break between the two Silverstone races. Although the yellow and black cars showed a strong form already on Friday, over night a new set-up made another step forward. The ominous mechanical change on the car allowed new set-ups, which had a positive effect especially in the fast corners. And exactly those were the weaknesses of the Renault so far. "The rear is now much more stable in the fast corners. I can now fully drive Copse Corner for the first time," praised Ricciardo.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
RF1 technical partner, DuPont is playing a vital role with advancements from materials: Kevlar; Nomex; and Klapton (a material that has a 600 degree C range...-296C up to 400C)
Renault definitely has a track to road mindset for the advancement they are making with its hybrid engine (as shown in the test bed picture below from the INFINITI Q60 Project Black S)
The aforementioned materials have proven promises in lightweight additions without jeopardizing safety (also read, reliability).....these materials have allowed for smaller motor productions that are able spin up much faster and with higher RPM's
Formula E (Nissan, formerly, Renault FE) has played a significant role, as the head of powertrain was moved over to the F1 team to lead ERS development, Pierre Calippe
A couple of exerts from the article:
Speaking about paper made from Nomex........."That same paper can be used as an insulator in the very high-voltage F1 MGU-K," Fiorella adds. "So we're able to take that paper and between Nomex and the MGU-K, we can increase the voltage, but also increase the durability of the motors - Carlo Fiorella, DuPont
Speaking about track to road.....It has also been able to take its F1 technology and turn it onto the road, injecting its expertise into the Infiniti Project Black S. This car has an F1-influenced MGU-K and two MGU-Hs to recover energy from braking and the turbocharger respectively, with the aim of helping that technology trickle down into mainstream Renault dealerships.
The INFINITI Q60 Project Black S (been in development since late 2016/early 2017):
Nico Hulkenberg track testing the car in late 2019:
Last excerpt from the article:
With F1 set to take on new rules in 2022, with some subtle changes to the power units, the advances under the skin will still remain all-important. And with DuPont at its side, Renault will aspire to show that it is once more championship material.
Formula E (Nissan, formerly, Renault FE) has played a significant role, as the head of powertrain was moved over to the F1 team to lead ERS development, Pierre Calippe
The engine sounds like it has a Formula E drivetrain strapped onto the V6.
Interesting article from The Race on how the upgrades are working.
"Renault had upgrades at Sochi that included reworked bargeboard detail, and its developments appear to have complemented set-up gains since Silverstone and unlocked more medium-speed corner performance.
This was evidenced by Renault’s strong pace at Mugello, where Ricciardo challenged for what would’ve been this version of the works team’s first podium, and that form continued at Sochi even though Ricciardo did finish behind Sergio Perez’s Racing Point.
“Part of that is us getting on top of the car, set-up wise,” said Renault sporting director Alan Permane of the team’s progress.
“Part of it is here [Sochi] we have brought an upgrade that worked very well, a really decent-sized upgrade which both cars have fitted and we’ve been running in qualifying, and in the race.
“So it bodes well. And the other thing is this is a very different track to Spa or Mugello.
“It doesn’t have the very high-speed sweeping corners of Mugello. It doesn’t have the downforce level of Spa where we went so well.
“So I think we can now really be confident that the car is going to work on any track.”
That partially explains Daniel's tremendous Q2 lap in Sochi.
From what I read also, Daniel didn't think Racing Point was quicker when they switched the the hard tire despite the gap between them in the end. I think Dan ultimately just lost out waisting time behind Ocon and Vettel. And that just set the tone for settling for 5th place.
This car should, and could, have raced in 2019. It has arrived a year too late, for no good reason*. It looks like a logical evolution of the RS.18, but the team has chosen to waste a year doing the same thing instead and to race with an RS.18 Mark2 in 2019...
Actually I know what happened, it's not due to the team's overconfidence in their 2019 car and engine, nor to their will to spare money [tin foil hat on]
This so called "RS.20" is actually the real RS.19, except one or two details. And the so called "RS.19" that raced last year is a fake RS.19. It was a last minute patch up of the RS.18.
So what happened? The team simply couldn't homologate the original RS.19, in spite of numerous attempts. The car had probably a much slimmer monocoque and nose but the team couldn't pass the crash-tests. that's why they've decided to abandon that project, bring back the older car and botch it with some 2019 parts.
This explains why Budkowski said, late in 2018, that the next car will be completely new... he was talking about the real but stillborn RS.19... but he wasnt aware of its fate yet.
And this explains why the 2019 car has been completed very late, despite the fact it was a light evolution of the RS.18. It was due to the last minute changes...
So what is the RS.20? it's a mix between the stillborn RS.19 and the previous car. It's an RS.20B but with a tweaked 2019 monocoque because the next-gen monocoque still hasn't passed the crash-tests.
It's a remake of the MP4-18 story. The 2019 car is Renault's MP4-17D while the 2020 car is Renault's MP4-19. [tin foil hat off]
Sorry to get in here out of nowhere, but if my team cannot win it, I hope Alonso does with Alpine! I was devastated in 2010 and 2012 and I'm ready for the redemption arc
This car should, and could, have raced in 2019. It has arrived a year too late, for no good reason*. It looks like a logical evolution of the RS.18, but the team has chosen to waste a year doing the same thing instead and to race with an RS.18 Mark2 in 2019...
Actually I know what happened, it's not due to the team's overconfidence in their 2019 car and engine, nor to their will to spare money [tin foil hat on]
This so called "RS.20" is actually the real RS.19, except one or two details. And the so called "RS.19" that raced last year is a fake RS.19. It was a last minute patch up of the RS.18.
So what happened? The team simply couldn't homologate the original RS.19, in spite of numerous attempts. The car had probably a much slimmer monocoque and nose but the team couldn't pass the crash-tests. that's why they've decided to abandon that project, bring back the older car and botch it with some 2019 parts.
This explains why Budkowski said, late in 2018, that the next car will be completely new... he was talking about the real but stillborn RS.19... but he wasnt aware of its fate yet.
And this explains why the 2019 car has been completed very late, despite the fact it was a light evolution of the RS.18. It was due to the last minute changes...
So what is the RS.20? it's a mix between the stillborn RS.19 and the previous car. It's an RS.20B but with a tweaked 2019 monocoque because the next-gen monocoque still hasn't passed the crash-tests.
It's a remake of the MP4-18 story. The 2019 car is Renault's MP4-17D while the 2020 car is Renault's MP4-19. [tin foil hat off]
All of this is very plausible to be honest. I wonder if they had been working on the real RS19 for some time. And part of why Chester had to go. Such a lapse in ability for a works team is not something that would have impressed Daniel...Being told the 2019 car was stillborn...I figured Renault must have done something wrong of epic proportions to have lost Daniel to a non-works team and this would largely explain why Daniel left more than what was released in the press. Being promised a 2019 car which turned out to be nothing more than computer images in the end...
And like the RS.18, its seems that the intercooler-to-engine pipe is integrated to the monocoque, unlike the other cars on the grid.
So the intake manifold is plugged directly to the tub (manifold red pipe to tub blue pipe) and the intercooler somehow connects to the other end of this charge air duct via another tub plug. https://i.imgur.com/zrQJtLe.jpg
They took the engine integration to the next level.
All of this is very plausible to be honest. I wonder if they had been working on the real RS19 for some time. And part of why Chester had to go. Such a lapse in ability for a works team is not something that would have impressed Daniel...Being told the 2019 car was stillborn...I figured Renault must have done something wrong of epic proportions to have lost Daniel to a non-works team and this would largely explain why Daniel left more than what was released in the press. Being promised a 2019 car which turned out to be nothing more than computer images in the end...
This, also following on from Alburaq's post, makes a lot of sense on so many levels.
We were all shocked, and not in a good way, when the 2019 car was launched after hearing nearly every part of the car was going to be new and it was going to be a big step and all we got was the old car with minor tweaks.
As you say, Dan jumped ship very early, not even bothering to renegotiate with Renault, to a team non-works, who in winter testing this season weren't 'clearly' ahead of Renault and whilst had made a jump from 2018 to 2019 didn't look like they were bringing much more of a jump into 2020, so Daniel was clearly spooked by what he saw from Renault in 2019, more than just the car performance being not quite where it should. A still born car and failed mid season updates would hit that criteria exactly on point...
I said as much at the time. Not only was there the 'evidence' (as outlined above), but I speculate(d) that what he had seen of management gave him insufficient confidence that they - management - could turn it around. Seems like the latter was a wrong judgement, or there was a as yet unidentified intervention/change subsequently which made a difference. Cyril's established 'over-promise, under-deliver' mode is in hibernation, hopefully for good.
This car should, and could, have raced in 2019. It has arrived a year too late, for no good reason*. It looks like a logical evolution of the RS.18, but the team has chosen to waste a year doing the same thing instead and to race with an RS.18 Mark2 in 2019...
Actually I know what happened, it's not due to the team's overconfidence in their 2019 car and engine, nor to their will to spare money [tin foil hat on]
This so called "RS.20" is actually the real RS.19, except one or two details. And the so called "RS.19" that raced last year is a fake RS.19. It was a last minute patch up of the RS.18.
So what happened? The team simply couldn't homologate the original RS.19, in spite of numerous attempts. The car had probably a much slimmer monocoque and nose but the team couldn't pass the crash-tests. that's why they've decided to abandon that project, bring back the older car and botch it with some 2019 parts.
This explains why Budkowski said, late in 2018, that the next car will be completely new... he was talking about the real but stillborn RS.19... but he wasnt aware of its fate yet.
And this explains why the 2019 car has been completed very late, despite the fact it was a light evolution of the RS.18. It was due to the last minute changes...
So what is the RS.20? it's a mix between the stillborn RS.19 and the previous car. It's an RS.20B but with a tweaked 2019 monocoque because the next-gen monocoque still hasn't passed the crash-tests.
It's a remake of the MP4-18 story. The 2019 car is Renault's MP4-17D while the 2020 car is Renault's MP4-19. [tin foil hat off]
Alburaq thank you for this insight and think you're on the money with this. I just wanted to see what you thought of this about the RS19? Renault if I recall where one of the team's that didn't want the 2019 regulations with the higher rear wings and wider front wings without all the winglets is this why they didn't have a proper RS19 as they initially designed the aero principles round those regulations but when they changed they realised they would have to completely change thier aero principles, which caused these delays etc and they just as you said did a patch up of the RS18 hoping it may work.
I might be very far from this but interesting what you and everyone think of this maybe.
Insight? no it's just a crazy theory and 100% speculation. : p
The real explanation is: "the overconfidence in their 2018-2019 chassis concept and engine, and the will to spare ressources for the near future" IMO. The engine delivered and made the big step but the chassis soon reached its glass ceiling - like Ricciardo said "we could only develop it so far" - which is no surprise, the nose concept and the sidepod concept were 3 seasons old and the other intermediate aero areas barely evolved...
. The boundary layer from his helmet is doing wonders for the air inlet (/sarcasm)
