Renault
| |
| Full Name | Renault Sport F1 Team |
| Base | Dieppe, France Viry-Châtillon, France Leafield, United Kingdom |
| Founder(s) |  Flavio Briatore
|
| Team Principal(s) | Flavio Briatore
|
| Technical Director | |
| Noted Former Drivers | |
| Template:FRA Jean-Pierre Jabouille Template:FRA Jean-Pierre Jarier |
|
Renault are a French automaker who have been involved in Motorsport since the beginning of the 20th century.
They have been involved in Grand Prix racing as a fully-fledged manufacturer as well as an engine supplier, both in Formula One and the AutoReject World Series - in the latter of which they have also been represented by the Infiniti brand.
Renault also have competed in rallying and touring car racing.
Formula One
1970s
In 1977 Renault became the first major production car manufacturer to enter Formula One in the commercial era, with a pair of cars entered by the in-house Équipe Renault Elf team headed by engineer and driver Jean-Pierre Jabouille alongside fellow F2 frontrunner Jean-Pierre Jarier. Renault were pioneers for the use of the V6 Turbo engine, which would later become the dominant choice of engine for the majority of the paddock. Reliability would be an issue in the early days of the team and as such would regularly retire from the races.
1980s
Renault returned to the F1 paddock in 1989, supplying power units to the Canon Williams and Camel Team Lotus outfits.
1990s
The Renault-engined Williams won the 1997 World Driver's Championship with Jacques Villeneuve at the wheel.
The French manufacturer vacated Formula One in an official capacity in 1998, but continued to supply engines to teams for the next three seasons under the Mecachrome, Supertec and Playlife monikers.
2000s
In 2000, Renault purchased Benetton Arrows for $120 million - but would not enter Formula One in its own right until 2002. Renault's first lineup consisted of two of the most exciting young drivers on the grid at the time, Spaniard Fernando Alonso and Briton Jenson Button - whom had both raced for Benetton Arrows the year before. Alonso was managed by Renault team principal Flavio Briatore and was symbolically made the #1 driver at the team despite having less experience and scoring the same amount of points as Button in 2001. Button took the first points for Renault, with a fifth place finish in the Malaysian Grand Prix. Another fifth followed several races later in the European Grand Prix - which was soon bettered by an incredibly popular third place at Button's home race in Great Britain, Renault's first podium of the new regime and their best finish of the season. Despite this strong result - Button's frustration with the team hierarchy combined with more consistent showings from Alonso meant that the Briton would leave Renault at the end of 2002. Alonso finished ahead of Button in the WDC with a seventh place compared to Button's ninth, with Renault finishing in a decent fourth place in the Constructor's standings.
Australian driver Mark Webber moved over from Jaguar in 2003, continuing Renault's policy of nuturing young drivers. Renault were much more competitive this year, with Alonso taking a second place and a third in the first two races - with the team scoring more consistently in general. Webber took another step forward after the mid-season break - taking his and the new Renault's first win in the German Grand Prix. Alonso continued to rack up the podium finishes and was slowly beginning to emerge as a possible future championship contender. Alonso capped off the season in great style, taking the flag in the final two races in the USA and Japan.
2004 arrived and Renault were looking like strong contenders again - however the boycott of races within the European Union by the FIA and FOTA as result of a conflict regarding the European Arrest Warrant meant that the calendar was majorly slashed - eliminating the chance to test and improve the car throughout the year. Ferrari dominated proceedings, predictably, but Alonso and Renault were able to get a single win in the United States Grand Prix. Webber didn't fare so well at Indianapolis, having a heavy accident on the last corner that ruled him out of three races on medical grounds. Webber would be replaced by 1997 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve before he returned at the last race of the season.