Engine supplier aiming for 'points, points, points' from new package.
Renault engine guru Fabrice Lom says the aim for the Red Bull Racing team will be to score 'points, points, points' from the coming season as the partnership between the two heads into its second Formula 1 campaign.
As was the case in 2007 with the RB3, the new RB4 - unveiled today in Jerez - will run with the same Renault V8 as the factory Renault team, with David Coulthard and Mark Webber hoping to make steps forward with the Adrian Newey-designed machine.
As well chasing improved speed, the team will aim to eradicate the mechanical problems it suffered last season as it attempts to improve on fifth in the constructors' championship last season - with Lom saying that improved reliability was one of the key aims for the season ahead.
"Last year we learned how to work with Red Bull Racing and how to integrate our engine with their chassis," he said. "Every team has its own unique way of working, but it went very well, with very few sticking points.
"There were 16 of us on track last year and, in 2008, we have upped that to 20 personnel. We found it was not so easy to run two cars in winter testing and the workload in the winter months was such that we did not have the staff to run night shifts when necessary. Usually, the end-of-year test sessions can be reasonably relaxed on the engine side. We are there to provide the power for the car while the team carries out tests on new components. However, this winter, we had to work very hard because of the new rules concerning electronics and the common ECU.
"Sometimes with a partnership, the first year can be the best, before you start really knowing one another and get less tolerant! I am sure that won't be the case with us. In terms of performance, maybe we can make some progress, but more importantly we can improve our reliability so as to move up the championship order. Apart from that, we want points, points, points!"
Rob White, engine chief at the factory Renault squad, admitted that partnership would be even more beneficial to both parties during the season ahead, with the main advantage being that the teams would be able to make the most of having four cars running on the same engine at a time when F1 is bringing more tightly controlled engine regulations.
"In 2007, we clearly achieved what we set out to do, and this year we continue to supply Red Bull Racing with the same engine as the factory team and operate it in the same way," he said. "In 2008, we can take advantage of the fact that engine installation in the chassis is more or less carried over and we can correct some elements that, with hindsight, we would have handled differently. In terms of track operations, there will be a significant difference this year because of the new rules regarding electronics.
"The most obvious change is that everyone must run a new and standardised Electronic Control Unit, but it also significantly affects the environment for working on engine and chassis systems. The change in the ules regarding driver aids, specifically engine braking and traction control, means we will need to work with new tools.
"Supplying Red Bull Racing as well as running the factory team means we can make use of the fact that we have engine data to work on from two teams, thus giving us an improved flow of information. Therefore for 2008, in terms of what is permitted by the very restrictive new rules, it should enable us to progress that little bit faster."
