We can catch Mercedes: Renault MD Cyril Abiteboul

Renault Sport Racing’s Managing Director Cyril Abiteboul has fired the first salvo to rival power unit manufacturers ahead of this weekend’s Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, stating it has the right plans in place to go toe-to-toe on power.

“I think we have what we need at [Renault engine facility] Viry-Châtillon in terms of resources to catch up Mercedes,” said Abiteboul.

“I really believe that we have, in the pipeline, what it will take in order to be right there at the top with Ferrari and Mercedes from an engine perspective.”

Renault, which won four-consecutive F1 world drivers’ and constructors’ crowns as engine supplier to Red Bull between 2010 and 2013, has endured a troubled campaign since the start of the sport’s hybrid-turbo era in 2014.

Its high-tech power units have been slammed by former works team, Red Bull – the Austrian outfit its most vocal critic, with Renault under pressure last season to close a rumoured 100bhp deficit.

The French manufacturer has since shifted Red Bull from works to customer squad, and returned this year as a works team in its own right.

It re-purchased Lotus, which formed the basis of its previous works effort that won back-to-back drivers’ and constructors’ crowns with Fernando Alonso in 2005-06 – and its rumoured that around half a second per lap has been found in updates run during pre-season testing.

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But, while Renault only formally took over Lotus in December 2015, managing director Cyril Abiteboul said that’s no excuse.

“We had a very busy winter to get there in time, but to a certain degree we need to put that behind us and not look back constantly,” he said.

“Now we are here we need to make it work, and we are just in the competition like other teams. There’s no excuse for what we’ve been doing over the winter.”

In McLaren refugee Kevin Magnussen, and British rookie Jolyon Palmer, Renault has what it hopes to be a strong driver line-up – with both sons of former racers who are desperately keen to prove themselves.

But, while expectations remain low for their return as a works outfit – driver Kevin Magnussen is also quietly confident for the road ahead.

“I’m confident that we can make big steps and everyone at Viry-Châtillon and [Renault team base] Enstone – they’re working flat-out and they know what they’re doing,” Magnussen said.

“In Viry, they realise what they’ve done wrong and they’ve changed that and they’re working on a proper plan and I have a lot of confidence in them.”

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