Renault Formula 1 managing director has suggested his company’s engine was lacking over 50 horsepower to their rivals in qualifying mode this season.
In Australia, the huge boost in performance Lewis Hamilton got in Q3 to take pole led to talk of what became known as ‘party’ modes when teams can turn up the engine for extra power for a single lap.
Throughout the year it then became the trait that Red Bull could often hang with Mercedes and Ferrari in race trim but on Saturday’s often had to settle for fifth and sixth on the grid.
“We’re missing about 15 to 20 kilowatts of engine power [20-27bhp] in the race, which under certain conditions could be made up for by the Red Bull chassis,” Abiteboul told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.
“But in qualifying, we estimate our deficit at 40 kilowatts [53bhp], and that’s significant.”
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The Frenchman also admits engine power played a key role in Renault’s own midfield battle with the likes of Force India, Haas and Sauber able to keep pace with the works team.
“With a customer engine from Mercedes or Ferrari, we would have qualified in seventh place in Abu Dhabi,” he said, with Nico Hulkenberg the best placed in 10th.
“This shows that we have a better chassis than our competitors [in the midfield], but also shows we are not as good as the three top teams.
“That’s why the main focus at first is on engine development. Next year, I don’t want to have to say anymore that we lacked too much power in qualifying.”