Specific parts still giving Renault reliability headaches

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Renault's Cyril Abiteboul says the manufacturer is doubling down on its efforts to eradicate reliability concerns for 2018, as teams face a reduction in engine units.

While Renault has made good progress on the power front over the last year following the introduction of a new engine, reliability woes have in some cases undermined its efforts, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen often finding himself on the receiving end of failures.

As Formula 1 reduces the engine limit for 2018 from four to three, the manufacturer is successfully tightening up its approach, insisting that it is well ahead of schedule in terms of its reliability program.

"We do have some parts that are capable of covering thousands of kilometres, in fact tens of thousands of kilometres – like the energy store or the MGU-K," Abiteboul told Motorsport.com.

Renault to be less conservative with engines in 2018

"But there are some specific parts that are giving us headaches, and for which reliability has been a concern this year.

"We know it is going to be a concern again next year, so it is still a bit early to confirm.

"But what I can tell you is that we are months in advance with our reliability programme in comparison to last year. So hopefully it will have a positive impact into next year."

Abiteboul also said that Renault has introduced new processes destined to safeguard against a lack of dependability next season and ensure the manufacturer's engine perform reliably and at their best at the outset.

"We want to make sure that reliability is right as soon as the winter tests begin; that we are covering lots of mileage in the winter tests and so on and so forth. And hopefully that will propagate again into the season.

"It is always difficult because time is extremely limited but we want to improve all the elements of the package, and it is a question of how late you dare brake in relation to that.

"But Remi [Taffin, Renault engine technical director] in particular is very rigid in his approach to sticking to milestones, in particular on the engine side."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.