Renault engines to take step forward

The 2017 Formula One World Championship season had been one that Red Bull Racing were looking forward to.

With a change in aerodynamic regulations, making the sport slightly less dependent on the power-units, the former four-time Formula One constructors champions were hoping that an Adrian Newey inspired car could move both Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen into contention alongside Mercedes and Ferrari.

However as yet that is yet to happen.

Ferrari have taken giant steps forward to now be on par and possibly ahead of Mercedes, whilst Red Bull Racing are being held back a little by their power-unit partners.

Whilst Red Bull Racing have signed a partnership to brand their engines as TAG Heuer, they are, as everyone really knows still working with French manufacturer Renault.

Renault have spent the entire V6 Turbo-Hybrid era playing catch-up and just as they were improving towards the tail end of 2016, a summer of token free development for Mercedes and Ferrari have seen them slip behind again.

But Renault are hoping some new upgrades will see that gap shrink.

?It is something that is still work in progress. We are touching some limitations, but we believe the concept that we have introduced this year is the right concept.

?There is innovation in the pipeline and there is performance in the pipeline. The thing we need to get under control is engine reliability, I?ve said that on many occasions. Renault F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul told motorsport.com.

?We know there is some fragility in the system that we need to cope with. It is true on the track and it is true on the dyno.

?And that is really the difficulty with reliability issues. It is the same thing for Honda ? reliability issues are also hurting you in your development programme back to base, and that is the sort of thing that is hurting us as we speak. We need to manage that.?

Renault are hopeful that the new spec power-units will be available before the end of July. But by then how far behind will both Red Bull Racing and Renault find themselves?