- Renault
We are not panicking - Renault chief Remi Taffin
While admitting falling behind schedule, Renault insists it can overcome the early engine woes which plagued its teams at Jerez.
Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Caterham, who all run on the engine, all struggled during the opening pre-season test, while Lotus missed the Jerez run altogether - restricting Renault from getting any meaningful mileage. Rivals Mercedes and Ferrari also enjoyed successful tests, raising concerns they have already opened up a big gap ahead of the opener at Australia on March 16.
But engineering chief Remi Taffin is not worried about Jerez, and believes there is plenty of time for their teams to make up for lost ground in the two upcoming Bahrain tests.
"The problems are worse from the outside than they are from the inside," Taffin told the BBC. "It's a difficult moment but we will get through this.
"We are still a bit behind schedule but we are where we would normally be at the first test."
Taffin also admits Renault have no concerns with any individual component, but it is making everything work together which is the priority in Bahrain.
"We have good parts. Each part works fine. We just have to make them work together," he added.
"We are quite happy with each component in terms of the level of competitiveness but we are struggling when we put everything together in the car and we have to get the most out of it.
"So when we get to Bahrain or race one, it will be still these components, but it will be our job to get the most out of them. We are happy with the level [of performance] we have got at the moment."
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
