Renault working to fix understeer issue for Canada

©WRI

The Renault Sport F1 team believes that it has an answer to an understeer problem that has been plaguing the R.S.18 at high speeds.

The problem was particularly noticeable at last month's Spanish Grand Prix, and could be a factor again this week in Montreal.

But technical director Nick Chester says that the team has a possible solution that will put an end to the team's struggles.

"We struggle with a little bit of high-speed understeer," he said this week. "We know how to solve it, it's just a long development to get bits to the track.

"It's just waiting for the specific parts that are going to help us, and they're due around Montreal time."

Chester said that the problem had first arisen in pre-season testing at Barcelona. It had still been a factor when the team returned to the venue for the Spanish GP.

"We knew it would be a problem," he admitted. "We've got a few bits coming for that kind of circuit in the second half of the season."

Renault yet to decide who gets new-spec engine in Canada

Renault will also have a new-specification engine for the race, although now all the Renault-powered drivers on the grid will have the upgraded unit.

"There’s a B-spec engine for Canada and we’re looking forward to that," Chester confirmed. "It should bring a bit more performance.

"There are a few bodywork updates too with some rear wing end plates, as well as small changes to the front wing.

"We’re trying to bring things to the track at every race," he added.

All these improvements will be particularly welcome at the Circuit Gille Villeneuve this weekend.

"Canada is about power and traction," Chester explained. "You need a lower downforce set-up level, as you also need that straight-line speed.

"It’s very much a traction circuit, as there are quite a few slow corners and then some big long straights

"Striking a downforce balance can be quite difficult, but we’re usually pretty good at working out what level to run when we get there.

"Kerb riding too is important," he noted. "We need to get the car low and stiff to balance between the best aero and getting the car riding the kerbs.

"We need to optimise rideheights for the aero platform, so there is a balance to be struck between aero performance and getting the car riding the kerbs."

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.