Renault

History

Renault first entered Formula 1 in 1977, bringing with it the radical innovation of turbo power. It took several attempts to perfect the technology, and two years passed before it finally scored the first turbo-powered win on home ground in 1979.

But despite being the first team to win a race with a turbo engine, Renault failed to deliver a championship in its original incarnation, coming closed with Alain Prost in 1983. The team slipped down the order after that and the plug was pulled in 1985.

It remained as an engine supplier and won a string of championships in the 1990s before returning as a constructor by taking over Benetton. Led by Flavio Briatore, the team won the constructors’ championship in 2005 and 2006, with Fernando Alonso claiming both drivers’ trophies.

Alonso departed the team for McLaren in 2007 but was back one year later. He scored his first win of the year for the team in Singapore.

But 12 months later the revelation that the victory had been contrived thanks to team mate Nelson Piquet Jnr crashing on purpose rocked the sport. It led to the departure of Briatore along with Pat Symonds. In the winter of 2009 Renault sold a large stake to Genii Capital.

At the end of 2011 the team was rebranded as Lotus. However Renault again remained as an engine supplier and powered Red Bull to its recent championship successes.

A change in engine formula in 2014 brought an end to four consecutive years of championship success with Red Bull. At the end of 2015 Renault chose to return as a full constructor by rebuying Lotus.

Drivers

View list of Renault F1 drivers.

Headquarters

Renault’s F1 team is based at Enstone in Oxfordshire, in the United Kingdom (above).

Major team personnel

President – Jerome Stoll
Managing director – Cyril Abiteboul
Executive director – Marcin Budkowski
Consultant – Alain Prost
Technical advisor – Bob Bell
Technical director for chassis – Nick Chester
Technical director for engine – Remi Taffin
Chief designer – Martin Tolliday
Head of oaerodynamics – Pete Machin
Deputy head of aerodynamics – Jon Tomlinson
Head of vehicle performance – Chris Dyer
Trackside operations director – Alan Permane

Renault featured articles

• Briatore and Symonds step down as Renault accepts Singapore crash charge
• Renault keeps team in F1 for 2010
• Renault RS01: F1’s turbo pioneer
• Renault confirms Lotus takeover

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