Renault Sport F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul hopes the French manufacturer’s first winless campaign since 2007 is just “an aberration”.
While Viry has been struggling in the 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged era, it had managed to secure three wins with Red Bull last year and entered this season eager to further cement its recovery. However, Renault immediately found itself on the back foot, as its new-for-2015 power unit proved to be both unreliable and underpowered.
This led to a spectacular falling out with the energy drinks giant, which repeatedly lambasted its long-time engine partner in the press.
Although Red Bull eventually managed to claim three podium finishes, the Milton Keynes-based outfit slipped behind Ferrari and Williams in the pecking order.
“Fourth in the championship for Red Bull is no doubt hard to accept and we all share that responsibility,” Abiteboul said.
“We have not reached the targets we set for ourselves, but I hope this year will be seen as an aberration to our usual good form.”
Renault’s second supplied team Toro Rosso targeted fifth position in the Constructors' standings but had to settle for seventh behind Lotus, due in part to being on the receiving end of poor reliability. That said, the Faenza-based squad and its electric all-rookie line-up scored 67 points against only 30 last season.
“At Toro Rosso, the championship position may not be as hoped, but with more than double the points of 2014, it’s been a strong year overall for them and we are proud to have worked together to achieve this.”
Perhaps most important for Abiteboul was the way Renault reacted in the face of hardship.
“At the end of a very challenging season, both on and off track, I would like to thank everyone at Viry-Châtillon for their hard work. At the start of the year when we came under fire it would have been easy to lose motivation, but all have kept their heads down and kept development on track.”
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