Red Bull boss Christian Horner is putting pressure on engine-supplier Renault to rush through an update for the next race in Spain and says the French manufacturer cannot afford to keep having engine failures this season.
Daniel Ricciardo got through his third Renault V6 in four races at the Bahrain Grand Prix when it let go in dramatic fashion as he crossed the line. Horner joked that the engine is now only fit for use as a coffee table, but he is hoping its replacement will have a solution for the poor reliability Renault has faced so far this year.
"We have had problems in every race so far, but it has to turn," Horner said. "Renault can't afford for this situation to continue and they are acutely aware of that.
"In Barcelona we will be bringing a few bits and pieces, but as will all the teams. The significant thing for us is what engine specification we will have in Barcelona, because it's a bit earlier than Renault had in their plan for the next step. The next couple of weeks will be critical."
Horner flew to Paris in the week between the last two races in order to have crunch meetings with chairman of Renault Sport Jerome Stoll.
"I went to Paris between China and coming here, I had a constructive discussion with Jerome Stoll who is the main board member within Renault and they don't want to be in this position," he said. "They want to be in F1 to compete and they want to win, they don't want to be in the situation that they are, so of course that is not going to come for free. He recognises that and Renault seem committed to finding a solution."