Renault chassis technical director Nick Chester believes the team will be playing catch-up during 2016 as it works to improve its infrastructure.
Last year saw Lotus facing a number of financial difficulties and the team lost personnel as a result, with Bob Bell highlighting the need to recruit aerodynamicists following the takeover from Renault. Chester agrees the focus will be on increasing the strength of the team itself before Renault can start to use that depth to improve the car.
“The technical challenges for 2016 are partly rebuilding the team - so getting strength back in the areas where we were weak - and then improving what is hopefully a reasonable baseline car, improving it through the year and developing our strengths,” Chester said.
“Then as we get in to 2017 the regulations are a huge change and that’s a car we want to start early and look at all the concepts that we might want to bring to 2017.”
While aware 2016 is likely to be a difficult year, Chester says motivation will remain high due to the ability to develop at a much quicker rate than in recent years.
“I think the development potential with Renault is much stronger. We’ve got much better resources and as we rebuild the team that’s something that is going to grow and grow.”
Christian Horner - The race of my life
Force India winter diary part five - Car build
Key dates for the 2016 F1 season
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
