It is true. The fact you indicating they had the option to design the gearbox tells me you have not followed this muchGhostF1 wrote: ↑24 May 2019, 16:09Even if that were true, do you really think they decided on a wheelbase and thought the only way to do this is design a "long" gearbox.. seems extremely wasteful and just a point of needless weight.
The only comments I've seen on this is that the Honda PU does not have the turbo overhanging massively out the back, so it doesn't enter the gearcase where the Renault actually had the turbine entering the box. That aided reliability and temperature control. Yes the engine sits further back but it is a considerably shorter package.
They did not design the gearbox. It's a hand down from from last year's RBR. That's why I say it's incidental, they were given a gearbox
It's not about the turbo entering the gear case, that is insane, it's about the gap that the Honda split turbo has to take at the front the the Renault did not have to.