Renault introduce new engine spec at the cost of grid penalties

The four drivers using Renault engines are set to take grid penalties at Spa and Moza when a new Spec C power unit is introduced. Nico Hulkenberg, Daniel Ricciardo, Carlos Sainz Jr and Lando Norris have already had penalties this season and the upgrade means that each driver will start from the back of the grid when it is introduced. 

"We will have penalties after the break, we know that," Renault F1 boss Cyril Abiteboul told Autosport.

"Unfortunately that's been the plan since Bahrain since Melbourne even for Carlos when he had that problem with the MGU-K that caused the whole engine to be lost because of the fire.

"We know that we are on the back foot and that we are going to have to swallow a few penalties. They will come in sync with a new spec of engine [and] that will be the final spec, the Spec C.

"I don't want to confirm when and for whom that will come, but that will mean penalties and also a bit of extra power."

Renault have had a few issues with their engine so far this season but will hope that the introduction of the new spec will be worth the penalties and that the power unit is more powerful and reliable.