Renault's Bahrain Gp: What Went Wrong?

During the 2019 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, Renault suffered a brutal double retirement as Nico Hulkenberg and Daniel Ricciardo both exited the race within moments of each other due to engine issues. Hulkenberg, who started 17th on the grid, had climbed to sixth and was on course for a strong finish before suffering an engine problem with just a few laps remaining. Moments later, Ricciardo stopped at the same corner with an MGU-K issue. The team was left shell-shocked by the events, with Hulkenberg expressing his disappointment at being so close to a good result. The issues highlighted the need for Renault to improve reliability and avoid similar disappointments in the future.

Nico Hulkenberg and Daniel Ricciardo retired from the race within moments of each other

The Bahrain Grand Prix in 2019 saw a shocking turn of events for Renault, as both Nico Hulkenberg and Daniel Ricciardo retired from the race within moments of each other due to technical issues. The teammates were on course for a double-points finish, with Hulkenberg in sixth place and Ricciardo in tenth during the closing stages of the race. However, their promising race came to an abrupt end on Lap 53 of 57.

Hulkenberg, who had battled through a chaotic opening lap, described his retirement as a \"brutal moment\". He suffered an engine problem just four laps from the finish, robbing him of a strong result. Moments later, Ricciardo stopped at the same corner, with what was later confirmed as an MGU-K issue. The sudden double retirement left the Renault team shellshocked.

Hulkenberg expressed his disappointment, stating that he had already mentally secured the good result. He acknowledged the importance of completing the full race distance but took some consolation in the decent pace of the car. He also reflected on the opening lap, describing it as a "war zone" with cars all over the place, contact, sparks, and flying parts. Despite the retirement, Hulkenberg felt they had a competitive package and could battle with others in the midfield.

Ricciardo, the only driver in the race to attempt a one-stop strategy, shared his heartbreak for the team, especially for Hulkenberg, whose race had been going well. He also admitted that he was still getting used to his new car but believed they were making progress. The race in Bahrain marked a turning point in the dynamics within the Renault team, as Hulkenberg later revealed his dissatisfaction with strategic decisions made by the management after Ricciardo's arrival.

Both suffered engine issues

The Bahrain Grand Prix in 2019 was a bitter disappointment for Renault, with both Nico Hülkenberg and Daniel Ricciardo retiring from points-scoring positions. Both suffered engine issues, forcing them to exit the race within moments of each other.

Hülkenberg was on course for a top-six finish, having battled through a chaotic opening lap, but his strong result was taken away when he suffered an engine problem with just a few laps to go. Moments later, Ricciardo's car stopped at the same corner, which was later confirmed as an MGU-K issue.

Hülkenberg described the moment as "brutal", as he felt he had the race booked and was controlling everything. He also noted that there were no signs or problems before the sudden engine failure. Ricciardo echoed these sentiments, stating that it was heartbreaking for the team to lose both cars at the same time with just a few laps to go.

Team principal Cyril Abiteboul acknowledged the issues, stating that they were increasingly frustrating and unacceptable. He emphasized the need to shift their focus on reliability to prevent such disappointing outcomes in future races.

Renault was left shellshocked

Hulkenberg, who was on a two-stop strategy, had been on course for a top-six finish before his engine problem. Moments later, Ricciardo stopped at the same corner with an MGU-K issue. Renault had previously encountered these issues, and team principal Cyril Abiteboul said they were "increasingly frustrating and unacceptable".

Hulkenberg described his retirement as a brutal moment, as a good result had been taken away so quickly. He said: "I had a gap to [Lando] Norris and everything was fine... It just happened from one moment to another... It was a bitter one, hard to swallow."

Ricciardo, the only driver in the race to attempt a one-stop strategy, also expressed his disappointment: "It was pretty heartbreaking for the team to lose both cars at the same time with a few laps to go. I feel for them. We will try and do better and keep learning."

Abiteboul acknowledged the need to shift the team's focus to reliability: "We must react and shift our focus on reliability."

Hulkenberg charged through the field from 17th on the grid

Nico Hulkenberg's performance in the 2019 Bahrain Grand Prix was nothing short of spectacular. The German driver started the race from 17th on the grid and charged through the field to reach sixth place. However, his impressive drive was cut short just two laps from the finish line due to an engine problem.

Hulkenberg described the retirement as a "brutal moment," having battled through a chaotic opening lap filled with "cars all over the place, contact, sparks, [and] parts flying around." Despite the disappointing end, he took solace in the decent pace of his Renault, acknowledging that they had a competitive package and could battle with others in the midfield.

Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul shared his frustration with the issues, deeming them "increasingly frustrating and unacceptable." He vowed to shift the team's focus on reliability to rectify the problems.

Renault had reliability issues

Renault's reliability issues were laid bare at the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2019. Nico Hulkenberg and Daniel Ricciardo were on course for a double-points finish, with the German on a two-stop strategy and the Australian on a one-stop strategy. However, both cars retired from the race within moments of each other on lap 53 of 57, with power-loss issues.

Hulkenberg, who started 17th on the grid, had battled through a chaotic opening lap to reach sixth place. He was just three laps away from a strong finish when he suffered an engine problem. Moments later, Ricciardo stopped at the same corner with what was later confirmed as an MGU-K issue.

Hulkenberg described the moment as "brutal", as he and the team were robbed of a good result. He said:

> It came also without any signs or problem before. It just happened from one moment to another... It was a fun race with a crazy first lap which I had to survive and by then I had to keep my head down. The team did a great job on the two-stop strategy today and we can take positives from that. We have to be cleaner going forward and make sure we don’t face anymore disappointments like this.

Ricciardo, who briefly led the race, was also left disappointed as his strategy gamble didn't pay off. He said:

> I felt like we got past a point in the first stint where it was too late to come back (from a one-stop strategy) and it was pretty much at that point I knew it wasn’t the best thing to do... In hindsight, two-stops would have been better.

Team principal Cyril Abiteboul acknowledged the issues, stating that the problems were "increasingly frustrating and unacceptable". He added:

> We must react and shift our focus on reliability.

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