Renault 2017 power unit to benefit from all-new ERS

Renault has already stated that it wants its power unit to be a match for its rivals by 2018, but the manufacturer has offered some insight as to how it plans to get there.

Renault's introduction to the turbo hybrid era was nothing but hardship and hard knocks which culminated in 2015 with a disastrous season which almost caused the complete implosion of its partnership with Red Bull.

Solid progress occurred last season however and the French manufacture has now rekindled its ambitions, according to Renault Sport managing director Cyril Abiteboul.

"This year we want to confirm the turnaround of the situation on the engine," he said at Autosport International.

"Last year was really fantastic, and we need to confirm that. We are going to have an all-new architecture on the internal combustion engine, and also be introducing for the first time the second generation of Energy Recovery System."

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Over the past year, Renault's engineers have formed a close relationship with their counterparts at Infiniti, a member of the Renault alliance.

The 2017 power unit's ERS changes are a direct result of the two entities' close collaboration.

"Frankly it is really the start of our relationship," added Abiteboul.

"Last year was done a little bit in a rush to a certain degree, although Infiniti was already prepared – because some of that was just a transfer of what was in existence between Red Bull and Renault Sport.

"But for the rest we are building blocks. Blocks which I hope are healthy foundations for the future and the next 5 to 10 years, which is the extent of time we have to think of any F1 involvement."

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