Renault progress limited until end of the year

Under-fire Renault insist that they can improve after severe criticism from Red Bull Racing.

However the in-season engine freeze is hurting the French manufacturer.

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner slammed Renault following the teams home Grand Prix in Austria.

The team and driver Sebastian Vettel have dominated F1 in recent years, taking both the drivers and constructors titles in four consecutive seasons and the return to the newly named Red Bull Ring after an eleven year absence was probably planned as a form of celebration.

But there was to be no on track celebrations for Red Bull Racing as Canadian Grand Prix winner Daniel Ricciardo could only manage an 8th place finish, whilst Vettel retired with reliability issues.

It was the latest in a whole host of mechanical issues that have plagued both Renault and Red Bull all season.

?It?s been frustrating; But at the end of the day we have won four World Championships with Renault, we have won all our races with them. We?ve got to trust them to get on top of these issues.

?There have been too many, but they?re more than aware of that.? Horner told Sky Sports.

Earlier on in the weekend Red Bull Racing motorsport advisor Helmut Marko had revealed to Sky that the team could consider making their own engines from 2016 if they were not satisfied with Renault.

Red Bull Racing’s current contract will see the team stick with Renault for next season, however no deal has been agreed going beyond 2015.

Red Bull are limited for options however as they are unlikely to want to be a customer of the likes of rivals Mercedes and Ferrari and Honda will only have had one-year of experience following their return to the sport with McLaren for 2015.

But whilst options are limited, Renault will not want to run the risk of losing their most competitive customer and will be desperate to prove that they can overcome their shortcomings this season.

‘We have been able to make improvements and significant headway this year in closing down the gap to our competitors, We still have work in progress and will deliver further improvements. Renault deputy managing director Rob White told Autosport Magazine.

‘But of course there are longer term pieces of work in progress that can realistically, for regulation, practical and legitimate reasons, be delivered over the winter that cannot be delivered over the course of this season.

‘There are short term and potentially bigger things that are available to you down the line.’