All new Renault engine in the works

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Renault boss Frédéric Vasseur has revealed to Motorsport.com that the French manufacturer is working on an all-new power unit for next season.

Renault struggled at the outset this year following its buy-out of Lotus at the end of 2015 and its return to the pinnacle of motor racing as a works effort.

The team has put its head down however and steadily improved its performance level although it remains at a fair distance from running competitively with the top five teams.

The outfit's 2017 program now includes a new power unit, as Vasseur told Motorsport.com.

"We have some good improvements in the pipeline," explained Vasseur.

"We will have a completely new engine next year. It is 100 percent new. It was the end of the development of the current one.

"We needed to do a step in order to move forward and we will do that. So far, everything is progressing and close to the expectations."

Vasseur also underlined the fact that the power unit's engineering concept was an exclusive Renault design, and not based on a rival engine manufacturer's approach.

"It is a Renault concept, I think we don’t have to stick to the others on the engine.

"We made a very good improvement over the past six to eight months and if we want to do another step we need to change a little bit the concept. I think they did it."

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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.