Renault is a secret to Red Bull’s recent success in formula one, the French carmaker claims.
The common perception, however, is that the energy drink-owned team has dominated the sport in recent years despite Mercedes-Benz actually supplying a more powerful 2.4 litre V8 engine to Red Bull’s rivals.

“The Mercedes engine is indeed about 15 horse power more powerful than ours,” confirmed Renault Sport F1′s Jean-Francois Caubet.

“But in terms of driveability and fuel economy, it is our engine in front. So when it comes to the bottom line, we are a little bit better than Mercedes,” he claimed to Germany’s Sport Bild magazine.

The most crucial factor, Caubet claimed, is the engine’s fuel economy amid the backdrop of the recent ban on in-race refuelling.

“Because our consumption is lower, Red Bull can start the races with 15 to 18 litres less petrol in the tank than the competition,” he said.

“That makes a big difference.”

Another factor is Sebastian Vettel’s driving, he agreed, with the back to back world champion having a “very fuel efficient” style, and being “extremely interested in the data”.

“They are both key factors when the driver wants to use the engine perfectly,” said Caubet.

The names Adrian Sutil and Nico Hulkenberg are suddenly being linked with the F1 seat currently occupied by Rubens Barrichello.

With Williams happy with Pastor Maldonado and his links with important Venezuelan backer PDVSA, the Grove based team at present is refusing to say the 39-year-old veteran Barrichello will surely stay beyond 2011.

Increasingly, the Brazilian’s rhetoric is sounding impatient, and Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports he is calling a halt to the practice of using his car as a test mule for struggling Williams’ technical experiments.

“Never have I wanted to be a test driver,” he is quoted as saying.

The report said Barrichello, with a conventional setup, was finally back to his dominant self in comparison to Maldonado in Hungary.

But at the same time, rumours swirled in the paddock that Germans Sutil – the current Force India driver – and 2010 Williams rookie Hulkenberg are in the running to replace Barrichello next year.

And Barrichello, the most experienced driver in F1 history, sounds frustrated.

“Our car cooks the rear tyres,” he said. “The driveability of the engine is bad and in slippery conditions it’s even worse. No matter what we do, we can’t make the tyre problem go away.

“We are bringing too many new parts to the car and only confusing ourselves,” he added.

Cosworth has played down rumours that Lotus is set to switch to Renault power for the 2011 season.

Recently, the British independent engine maker also played down speculation Williams could change suppliers, insisting the team last year signed a three-year contract.

But Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports that, like Williams, Lotus has also been disappointed with Cosworth’s 2010 engine, including driveability issues and performance degradation.

“With Lotus, as with all the new teams, we have a three-year contract,” Cosworth’s business director Mark Gallagher said in Valencia.

He said he has spoken with Lotus team owner Tony Fernandes about the rumours.

“He told me that they were contacted by all three of the engine companies,” said Gallagher, referring to Renault, Ferrari and Mercedes.

“That is the reward for being the best of the new teams,” he added.  “He (Fernandes) told us that for next season, they are planning (to be) with us.”

(GMM)

Adam Parr is not ruling out a change of engine supplier for Williams.

Amid rumours both Williams and Lotus could each be eyeing a supply of Renault V8s in 2011, Cosworth’s Mark Gallagher has insisted both teams are under contract for three years.

Parr, Williams’ chief executive, likened a F1 team’s relationship with its key suppliers to a marriage.

“You do have rows with your wife, but you know you have got the common interest and I still think that is the case,” Parr, referring to Williams’ recent qualms about the driveability and degradation of the Cosworth engine this year, is quoted by GP Week.

“But we have no plans to change engine partner, and we have no desire to change engine partner,” he continued.

“I just don’t want to rule out the possibility of something happening because that would be a stupid thing to do,” he added.

(GMM)

Cosworth has played down reports Williams is set to switch to Renault engine power in 2011.

It has been suggested that Grove based Williams is unhappy with the performance of the 2.4 litre V8, especially its degradation as it ages.

But Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports that the British independent engine maker, also the supplier to the three new teams, has commenced a programme to improve the deficiencies.

And Cosworth’s business director Mark Gallagher said: “We have a three year contract with Williams, and there is no evidence they want to end this relationship.”

He also said all of the candidates to be F1′s 13th team in 2011 “with one exception” have been in talks with Cosworth.

Auto Motor und Sport reports that Cosworth is the cheapest engine supplier on the grid, with its engine costing EUR 5.5 million per year compared to the 9m price-tag for Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault power.

The publication said Nicolas Todt’s hopeful ART team wants to be powered by Ferrari.

But Gallagher insists that Cosworth provides a highly reliable product, while the input of Rubens Barrichello has helped the marque to improve the engine’s driveability.

As for the loss of horse power in the middle of the engine’s life, Gallagher revealed: “We have found the cause and brought a solution to the FIA for permission to make the change.”

(GMM)

Lotus could be contemplating a change of engine supplier for its second season in formula one.

That is the claim of Heikki Kulta, the F1 correspondent for the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat.

Veteran Kulta, who has been attending grands prix since 1983, is known for his close relationships with Finnish drivers, including Lotus’ Kovalainen.

He reported from Monaco that Lotus, the most impressive of F1′s three new teams this year, will unveil one more big aerodynamic update for the British grand prix and then turn its attention to the 2011 car.

Kulta said Lotus is eyeing a change of engine supplier, having entered F1 with FIA-preferred Cosworth in 2010.

“I am very confident that next year we will have a good car, which we will be able to build over a longer period,” Kovalained is quoted as saying.

“This car was a rush but next year our team will be seen in the real way,” he added.

It has been reported that Renault is willing to supply another team, and the very best advertisement for its product was Saturday’s 1-2-3 in Monaco qualifying.

Mercedes’ V8 is known to be the most powerful in F1, but Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel said the driveability of the Renault V8 is paying off on the streets of Monaco.

“If you have the first three cars in qualifying with the Renault engine I think that’s a positive note,” said the German.

(GMM)