Red Bull are hoping fuel and lubricant developments from new-for-2017 partner ExxonMobil will provide some performance gains from their Renault power unit in the coming races, as they look to bridge the gap to Mercedes and Ferrari.
With Renault confirming it won't be debuting a major power unit upgrade until the 2018 season, Red Bull face languishing behind the leading two teams all season, but team boss Christian Horner is confident some of that gap can be cut with developments from their fuel and oil partner.
"We will probably introduce our next engine [from the season's allotted allocation] in Austria – and hopefully that will be a bit of a boost as our fuel supplier ExxonMobil did a great job finding performance," he told the official Formula 1 website, adding: "In this area there is quite a bit of potential."
Horner said he wasn't surprised to learn that Renault won't be delivering a major engine update this season, despite contradictory comments earlier in the year, but remains confident that Red Bull can catch those ahead.
"Nothing surprises me these days," he said. "You deal with the hand that you've got and we will keep on pushing the best we can. As I just said, we are very confident our new partner ExxonMobil will help in performance from that side.
"And as I said before, the last three races have been promising, so let's see what Baku holds for us."
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