Red Bull Choose Not to Use New Renault Power Unit

F1 teams will have no breaks for the next two weeks as Austria and Britain breathe down their necks in the sport’s first triple header. The first of those races, Austria, will be the home track for Red Bull.

Renault are still the team’s engine supplier and they have been working on an MGU-K unit for quite a while. So far, all Renault-powered teams; including Red Bull were using the 2017 spec MGU-K as the new one was yet to be developed.

Renault boss, Cyril Abiteboul said, “It will be available in Austria for all the cars that want it. It is something that we have been very much waiting for.”

But it is finally ready but Red Bull have opted not to use the new power unit in Austria. The understanding is that they do not want to be hit with penalties at such a special race in their home.

The Red Bull team suffered a power loss in Bahrain with Ricciardo’s car giving way after just a couple of laps and the problem cropped up again in the Australian’s garage during the Monaco Grand Prix.

Though the race went his way, it was down to his supreme efforts and the narrow track which helped him maintain position. Red Bull were less than impressed with the recurring problem.

“It is a problem that some have chosen not to use it [the MGU-K]. It means they’ll continue to use a previous technical specification with a higher reliability risk”, said Abiteboul.

“But that is our philosophy- to accept the choice of the teams that have all the information”, added the Frenchman.

The decision by the Austrian team seems justified as no one wants to experience a Grand Prix where the home team starts farther back than they qualify. They will be hoping to build on Verstappen’s podium finish in France.