Renault will introduce a completely new power unit for the 2017 season as it looks to bridge the gap to Mercedes and Ferrari, team principal Fred Vasseur has revealed.
The French manufacturer struggled with the introduction of the new V6 hybrid rules and suffered with an unreliable and underperforming engine. However the manufacturer has made huge steps forward this season, powering customer team Red Bull to two victories.
However Vasseur says they've reached the limit with their current concept and have therefore designed a "100 per cent" new power unit as they strive to match Mercedes.
"We have some good improvements in the pipeline," he told Motorsport. "We will have a completely new engine next year. It is 100 per cent new.
"It was the end of the development of the current one. We needed to do a step in order to move forward and we will do that. So far, everything is progressing and [it's] close to the expectations."
Vasseur expects a similar jump in performance next year as they have managed in 2016.
"When you take a decision on a project, we were at the end of the concept – and to do another step we need to change a little bit the concept.
"We improved over the winter, and between Spec A and Spec B," he added. "We could expect the same thing next year and during the season."
