Renault Chief Technical Officer Bob Bell says the manufacturer has adopted a “fresh approach” in a bid to get on top of the reliability issues which have previously compromised its prospects.
Renault targeted fifth place in last year’s standings but glitches and failures hampered its chances, and it finished sixth, recording 13 retirements.
Customer teams Red Bull and Toro Rosso were also impacted, leading Renault’s relationship with its outgoing Faenza-based partner to deteriorate amid late-season problems and a shortage of parts.
Bell explained that reliability is a key area Renault hopes to address heading into the new campaign.
“We need a strong reliability record,” Bell said. “That’s something we need to focus on, and we have worked hard on it over the winter.
“We need the car as reliable as we can make it. That’s a huge challenge, even more so than performance development, and it’s the toughest task we face.
“To improve reliability, we have to accept nothing less than perfection. Anything that ends up on the car needs to be designed and built to the highest standard; checked and rechecked as fit for purpose.
“All the issues which blighted us last year need to be eradicated by a fresh approach. It’s not something however that you can flick on like a switch, you need well established processes in place.”
Engine chief Remi Taffin echoed Bell’s sentiments, commenting: “Our first priority is for reliability and it’s going to be even more difficult as we have to get another quarter out of the engine life on top of the target for 2017.
“Of course, we knew the three engine rule was going to come, so it’s something we scaled in for 2017 in preparation for 2018.
“We started designing the 2018 engine in 2016 with the three engine limitation in mind and we have completed more hours on the dyno than ever before.”
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