Renault F1 technical director Bob Bell has described the sport's new standard electronic control units as a technological "backward step", as the team continues its difficult transition from longtime electronics partner Magnetti Marelli.
Traction control is banned from 2008 onwards and the FIA has introduced the standard ECUs, tendered out to McLaren Electronics Systems, to help manage the new regulations more effectively.
But Bell told Renault's website that developing the cars around the system has been a "painful birth".
"In relation to what weve been using up to now, the system has lower performance," he said.
"Its capacity, complexity and functions are not on the same level. For a team like ours, which designed a bespoke system, its a backward step.
"Its format is different to what weve been using so far. Its accessories are also specific and we had to install all these new components on the car.
"It wasnt an insurmountable task, but the final result isnt what wed have chosen if our hands were free."
Bell, who indicated that McLaren's previous working knowledge of the system should give it an advantage next year, added that integrating the system cost the team valuable development time chasing performance.
"It involved a huge amount of work," he said.
"This adaptation required a modification of the cars technical specifications. The installation of the ECU is not the same, and we had to change other parameters too. The different management of the electronics required the production of a new steering wheel.
"Linking up the additional control units also demanded a lot of effort. All this extra work meant that resources were allocated to an area other than performance. Whats more, we had to get to know how to use the new system.
"In 2008, well have to revise our procedures completely, changing from a 100% Marelli environment to a McLaren Electronics Systems philosophy. Its as if we had to talk to the car in a new language with a new philosophy!"
Bell also revealed that the new ECU has played a central role in the design conception of the new Renault R28, set to be unveiled in January.
"For the R28 that will be designed around the new system, we started from a blank sheet," he said.
"In a certain way it was easier to integrate the ECU and its accessories, but that also required more time and additional work compared to a normal design phase.
"It should not be forgotten that this transition needs significant infrastructure changes, as the way of using the ECU is different. We had to revise a host of parameters.
"For example, the way we use our test bed, our gearbox management, the tools we use for analysis and telemetry, the computer installations in the factory and in the garage as well as training our engineers," he added.
"In fact, this phase of the adaptation isnt over yet."
