Once the new 2022 Formula 1 season begins, it will be totally prohibited to modify the engines and, therefore, Renault has worked on a significantly updated power unit, whose main feature is the spaced turbine and compressor scheme.
The advantage of this solution is that both units are on the same shaft, connected to the MGU-H generator, so when the shaft rotates, helping acceleration, it does not have to spend energy to turn the turbine.
This solution has worked successfully on the Mercedes power unit for many years, while Honda also switched to this concept after a rough early years. Now, Renault has decided to take the same approach.
The French manufacturer’s engines in F1 are only used by Alpine . The head of the structure, Laurent Rossi , explained that the increase in power was the decisive reason for the change.
“You have to choose between reliability and power, as it is very difficult to achieve both at the same time. So it is important to know what our direction is.”
“During 2021 we faced certain problems in terms of reliability and finally that was our choice.”
“I told the guys: ‘look for performance and don’t worry about the rest. For me it’s better if we have a lot of hp and not a very reliable engine that has no power'”.
Rossi also confirmed a change in the concept of the electrical unit of its power unit, something that forced them to relocate all the elements.
“The engine has been completely redesigned. I would say it is completely new. First of all, we have separated the turbine [and compressor], but that is only the visible part. We have also made the engine more compact, that allows us to place it closer of the pilot and thus change the position of the center of gravity”.
“It’s lighter and can work in a wider range of conditions, including temperature and pressure. So for us, this is a real opportunity to turn things around. I hope that allows us to close the gap further with leaders,” he concluded.
Alpine and Renault’s partnership finished fifth in the Constructors’ Championship last season in Formula 1, with a victory in Hungary for Esteban Ocon and a podium finish in Qatar for Fernando Alonso as best results.
