PICTURE:XXXXXXXXXXXwas reasonably positive. But this was just one
circuit, and certainly not the bumpiest –plus
subsequent events mean we have yet to see the
car in action anywhere else, least of all at a venue
that would genuinely challenge it.
“Within the car build this year, there’s various
things we’ve doneto address it,” Ricciardo said
after the second test. “Sowithout going into
detail, more suspension travel or stuff like this to
help with somebumpier parts of circuits. We’re
going to go to Melbourne onsomething bumpy
and harsh and we’re goingto know if it’s better.”
The postponement of the Australian GP and
several subsequent races means that discovery
will be deferred. Renault now has to re-map its
priorities once again: with the season on hiatus
for the foreseeable future, how much resource
can it justifiably throw at developing the RS20?
The fallout from the coronavirus pandemic haschanged the way F1’s competitors wouldusual ly
navigate a season. Most teams begin to switch
focus to the following season in June or July,
and such are the demands of the next-generation
regulations that the majority were expectingto
switch off the 2020 developmenttaps early.
Originally Renault’s plan was to upgrade the
RS20 for Melbourne and bring a much bigger
update package to Vietnam. From there it would
have taken a view, based on the pecking order,
of where to allocate development resources. The
agreement between the teams, the FIA and F1
to deferthe 2021 technical rules until 2022, and
allow limited development of the present cars
through 2021 subject to the budget cap, gives
Renault a breathing space itdidn’t have before.
“If we’re not able to correct the aero problems
of 2019 in2020 , I don’t see howwe can make
a tremendous car in 2021,” said Abiteboul at
the launch of this year’s car. “There are stillreality checksto be done.”
Now it has more time to validate its processes
and bed in the new technical leadership. But of
course, if the season doesn’t get underwayuntil
summer, that leaves little time for those drivers
soon to be out of contract to decide whether
staying put isthe best option or not. Ricciardo
has said that he wants to “make it work” with
Renault, but it’s likely he’ll have a much-reduced
number of races in which todo so beforegetting
stuck in to negotiations about his future.
“I don’t want it tofeel likeI’ve just come to
Renault, got away fromRed Bull and thenI’m
lookingfor thenext best thing [another team],” he
says. “I really wantto make t his happenand make
it work, and obviously the stepto th at is getting
more out of this year than we did last year.”
And that, indubitably, is a coded call for
Renault to shape up, lest he ships out.Theteamisoptimisticthat
changestothefrontendand
sidepodsfortheRS20will
improveperformanceGP RACING APRIL 2020 57
was reasonably positive. But this was just one
circuit, and certainly not the bumpiest –plus
subsequent events mean we have yet to see the
car in action anywhere else, least of all at a venue
that would genuinely challenge it.
“Within the car build this year, there’s various
things we’ve doneto address it,” Ricciardo said
after the second test. “Sowithout going into
detail, more suspension travel or stuff like this to
help with somebumpier parts of circuits. We’re
going to go to Melbourne onsomething bumpy
and harsh and we’re goingto know if it’s better.”
The postponement of the Australian GP and
several subsequent races means that discovery
will be deferred. Renault now has to re-map its
priorities once again: with the season on hiatus
for the foreseeable future, how much resource
can it justifiably throw at developing the RS20?
The fallout from the coronavirus pandemic has
changed the way F1’s competitors wouldusual ly
navigate a season. Most teams begin to switch
focus to the following season in June or July,
and such are the demands of the next-generation
regulations that the majority were expectingto
switch off the 2020 developmenttaps early.
Originally Renault’s plan was to upgrade the
RS20 for Melbourne and bring a much bigger
update package to Vietnam. From there it would
have taken a view, based on the pecking order,
of where to allocate development resources. The
agreement between the teams, the FIA and F1
to deferthe 2021 technical rules until 2022, and
allow limited development of the present cars
through 2021 subject to the budget cap, gives
Renault a breathing space itdidn’t have before.
“If we’re not able to correct the aero problems
of 2019 in2020 , I don’t see howwe can make
a tremendous car in 2021,” said Abiteboul at
the launch of this year’s car. “There are stillreality checksto be done.”
Now it has more time to validate its processes
and bed in the new technical leadership. But of
course, if the season doesn’t get underwayuntil
summer, that leaves little time for those drivers
soon to be out of contract to decide whether
staying put isthe best option or not. Ricciardo
has said that he wants to “make it work” with
Renault, but it’s likely he’ll have a much-reduced
number of races in which todo so beforegetting
stuck in to negotiations about his future.
“I don’t want it tofeel likeI’ve just come to
Renault, got away fromRed Bull and thenI’m
lookingfor thenext best thing [another team],” he
says. “I really wantto make t his happenand make
it work, and obviously the stepto th at is getting
more out of this year than we did last year.”
And that, indubitably, is a coded call for
Renault to shape up, lest he ships out.Theteamisoptimisticthat
changestothefrontendand
sidepodsfortheRS20will
improveperformance