Renault R29

[timbo]

I wish everyone would stop saying that all the cars are going to be radically different to what we're seeing now. Due to the huge rule changes the teams would be stupid to be testing completely different concepts now to the ones they plan to race. All the cars will see tweaks, updates and evolutions, but the only cars that will be radically different come the first race will be from those teams that have got it wrong and are having to make huge changes to try and catch up.

Renault plan to race with that nose, and if it doesn't make it to the first race then it will only be because they made a mistake.

Second that. Every year we hear - we would have completely new aero package at the first race, we plan to introduce entirely new front wing at "xxxx" GP and it is still more or less the same. Of course details are different but it's not like Ferrari starts to look like McLaren or vice versa.

[Moanlower]

I wish everyone would stop saying that all the cars are going to be radically different to what we're seeing now. Due to the huge rule changes the teams would be stupid to be testing completely different concepts now to the ones they plan to race. All the cars will see tweaks, updates and evolutions, but the only cars that will be radically different come the first race will be from those teams that have got it wrong and are having to make huge changes to try and catch up.

Renault plan to race with that nose, and if it doesn't make it to the first race then it will only be because they made a mistake.

Second that. Every year we hear - we would have completely new aero package at the first race, we plan to introduce entirely new front wing at "xxxx" GP and it is still more or less the same. Of course details are different but it's not like Ferrari starts to look like McLaren or vice versa.

Quite isn't quite the same as radical. Maybe your expectations are a bit too high in seeing the changes. Some people don't see any difference between any of the cars. By the way, I like the nose, bring it on!

[mx_tifoso]

GrandPrix.com - Ronald to drive for Renault?

[adidas]

I like the Renault livery. I think it's the second best on the grid. Behind those two scarlett red beauty's... of course.

Ta

[wesley123]

How ugly is that?

The car is genial at the rear but soo ugly.

The nose wont make it to australia.

smart to let the sidepods be really low and then large cooling at the top so the lower part can guide air to the diffuser.

Who said i was wrong?

Read this translated article;

Renault tries earodynamics on british airport
Renault did an earodynamical test last week on a british airport. As heard the team is working on a new nose, this nose should be introduced afterwards in the barcelona tests.

The spanish mag Dario AS claimed that renault went to the airport directly after the Portimaro tests, where they were alst all the time.

On the airport the team did some straight line tests. The team had alto of material going with them, with a amount of 5 trucks while 1 truck is normal at regular tests.

source: http://www.formule1.nl/nieuwsbericht/10-34-8367.html

[myurr]

Never said you were wrong - if true it would just mean that Renault made a mistake. And a big one!

The entire aerodynamic philosophy would have been based on the characteristics of that nose, and so they are now going to be playing catch up beyond the first race or two. Expect a slew of tweaks and updates to the car as they change the nose and the rest of the aerodynamics as best they can before the first race, before there being a major overhaul once they head back to the European races.

Remember that we're talking about hundredths of a second making all the difference, and they're going to have a totally redesigned nose on the car due to the as designed aerodynamic concepts being proved wrong on track. They would not do this lightly, must be a fundamental error if true.

[Skunk0001]

The FW26 had a major front end redesign mid season and still had some pace and even a win (how much of that was the BMW engine is debatable), so there is hope for Renault even if they did make a big mistake.

[Conceptual]

That statement can also be taken as an evolution of the launch nose as well. Just because it is "new" doesn't mean philosophically different.

[axle]

I personally think there will not be a massive redesign, there will be a redesign but not that massive.

I expect it to droop lower and be more BMW like. The width will still be there. I think this will allow them to do this to retain the aero philosophy in the underside of the present nose. This change will reduce the ability of the underside to do the job intended, but the frontal area reduction will reduce drag significantly.

This is my guess, based purely on gut instinct.

I also wonder if Renault threw the world a curve ball to keep something under wraps a little longer...

[i70q7m7ghw]

I thought the problem with the Renault was that they hadn't designed a diffuser that takes full advantage of the rules like Williams or Toyota ?

[myurr]

I'm sure it isn't helping, but they appeared much slower than McLaren as well (who were pretty close to the Williams time) so it's not just that. If you can read anything at all into those test results. Don't forget that Williams ran an interim car so are likely to be better at setting their car up than the others and are probably slightly further into the evolution of the aerodynamics. That'll be less of a differentiator by the first race.

[Shaddock]

If the R29 is as bad as some claim (although in winter testing I'll take everything with extra salt), will this be the last year for Alonso anywhere but in a Ferrari?

jd, what's your basis for calling the R29 bad? Lap times during testing?

It would be a pretty big disappointment if the R29 were no good, based on Renault's being able to upgrade their engine and having the best car-development driver in the business. I would've liked to see Alonso put in some fast laps but that's probably not what they're focusing on right now.

Well, my statement did start with a big "IF" and includes the word "claim", which shows that I am not sure if said "claims" are indeed facts or not. Therefore don't ask me about basis for calling the R29 bad. (As far as we know, all cars are bad at this point and the fastest one is the yet-to-be launched STR.) These are mere speculations, but as we know, sometimes, speculations turn out to be true. Needless to say, we will all find out soon enough.

"Tech director Pat Symonds admitted to being "disappointed" with the car's lack of pace, while the team's double World Champ Fernando Alonso complained of poor handling and a lack of grip. "

Oh dear

[rjsa]

Something that looks so wrong as that nose just can't be right. Please notice I don't mean it looks ugly, I mean it looks wrong.

[Miguel]

I really don't get all the fuss about the Renault sucking badly. I really don't. Is it a world beater? At this time it probably isn't, but please note that:

• Williams did test an interim car looking pretty much like the new one in december.
• McLaren did the same.
• At least Williams, McLaren, Ferrari and Toro Rosso had previous experience in Portimao.
• All other cars have had previous testing in acceptable weather

So, as a reasonable doubt, could it be that, due to the first day of testing in the wet and due to the radically different car they have compared to last year, they got the setup all wrong? Could a mismatch between suspension setup, aereo setup and then couple that to a track that Renault hadn't been before cause at least 1s and probably more difference in laptimes?

I realise that the R25 was inmediately quick, as was the R26. But hitting the right set up is terribly important, and even small "changes" in ride height change the way an F1 behaves. Let's give them one week of proper testing before burning the new car.

[Shaddock]

Renaults latest test was at Kemble airport doing straight line runs..

This does not bode well,

Lets hope they have a better showing at Jerez in a weeks time.