The French owned auto manufacturer Renault, first entered Formula One back in 1977. They entered as a constructor of both chassis and engines and in 1983 began supplying customer teams with the French built power units.

The company came and went as a works team entry several ties, although they delivered numerous race wins for customers most notably with Williams and with Benetton in the 1980’s and 1990’s.

Renault’s golden era coincided with them having recruited a young Spaniard, called Fernando Alonso. After six years of Ferrari dominance, the French owned team broke the Scuderia’s run in 2005.

 

 

 

Renault’s golden F1 years

The chassis design of the R25 that year showed excellent traction and good slow corner performance as it benefitted from a longer wheelbase. The electronics were the class of the field with advanced traction control and a sophisticated launch control system which gave Alonso rocket like starts.

Acceleration from the superb low end torque of the engine was explosive and more importantly reliable unlike Mercedes. And the final piece of the jigsaw was the resurgence in the Michelin tyres used by the team, which had been dominated by Bridgestone in the Ferrari era.

Fernando Alonso romped to two drivers’ titles in 2005/6 and the team were constructors’ winners both seasons too. Yet the will to run a works based F1 factory team waned in Paris and Renault returned to supplying customer teams only with its engines again.

Despite the apparent lack of commitment to F1, Renault engines once again rose to the fore in partnership with Red Bull. They and the Milton based teams won both drivers’ and constructor titles between 2010-13 having developed the best power unit which was then largely frozen due to F1’s financial disarray.

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Red Bull dominance powered by Renault

Together with genius aerodynamicists, Adrian Newey, Renault developed a tightly packaged engine which fitted with Newey’s coke bottle styled rear end. Added to this was the exhaust blowing technique they developed together, which saw the hot gases exiting the engine blown across the diffuser. This meant the Reed Bull cars had incremental rear end downforce which no other team could replicate as effectively.

Another key factory of the Renault engines during that era was their  incredible fuel efficiency and although the unit was slightly down on the power of Ferrari and Mercedes, this meant Red Bull often started Grand Prix with kilograms less fuel than their rivals offering a significant advantage in the early stages of the race.

However, more lack of commitment from Paris saw Renault’s all new V6 hybrid way off the pace come 2014. Some reports suggest they spent five times less than Mercedes in their research and development, leaving Red Bull frustrated with poor reliability and a lack of performance.

Renault returned as a full works team in 2016, but have failed to recapture anything of their glory days in F1 and in 2024 the decision was made to stop manufacturing F1 power units at their Viry-Chatillon facility. Alpine – owned by Renault – will become a Mercedes customer come 2026.

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Renault’s huge F1 successes not celebrated

Little was made by the TV broadcasters of Renault’s imminent departure at the season finale in Abu Dhabi, despite the French owned F1 outfits setting records which stand the test of time today.   They are fourth on the all time list of eying manufacturers wins in Formula One, with Ferrari leading with 249, then Mercedes with 238, followed by Ford on 176 and Renault just behind with 169.

Honda despite all their F1 success are credited with just 89 Grand Prix wins although if the recent RBPT-Honda collaborations are added this ups the total by another 38. One of Renault’s finest drivers and ambassadors at the team, Alain Prost, was sorry to see the last race for Renault in Abu Dhabi.

Having debuted with the McLaren team, Prost then moved to Renault in 1981. He remained with the team until 1983 when he almost claimed his maiden F1 drivers’ title. Prost did finally get his fourth championship with Renault power when he drive alongside Ayrton Senna for Williams in 1993

“I was involved with Renault when it was the [racing] school and then Formula Renault – it’s about 50 years ago,” he said with reference to the various Renault backed junior single seater series.“So I always follow. I always work for them – even today, I still do things with them,” the Frenchman revealed.

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“Very difficult to come back” to F1 for Renault says Prost

Now with Viry-Chatillon focused only on supporting the team’s Hypercar programme in the World Endurance Championship, Prost explains some of the reasons why the F1 programme is no more.“It’s a shame. I understand the decision in terms of the financial aspect. Especially when you’re running a team based in France. The cost is more than in countries like England, for example.

“Obviously, I’m very sad, because it’s a long history, it looks like they disappear like this, nobody talks about that. But if I’m here today, it’s because of them. Because of the history of what they have done in motor sport, in F1 – we are part of the history.”

Like Honda, Renault have dipped in and out of F1 over the decades, but this time Prost believes is different and the likelihood of a return is slim for the French manufacturer. “It’s going to be very difficult for them to come back,” he said. “Maybe in a long time, but it’s too difficult. Maybe in another way.”

Prost has been an ambassador for Renault becoming one of the key individuals in the creation of their Formula E team. He was asked to move into an advisory role in 2016 when Renault returned as a works based outfit, but reveals disputes with the Renault director in charge, Laurent Rossi, of the F1 programme meant his time proved fruitless.

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Rossi again courted Prost in 2022, but the French racer had learned his lesson and in a very public fashion turned him down. “I have refused the offer made to me in Abu Dhabi for the 2022 season because of a personal relationship, and I was right!” Said Prost on social media.

He accused Rossi of having “no respect” for others. “Rossi’s desire is to be alone, not to be polluted by anyone,” claimed Prost. “He told me he no longer needed advice. There is a real desire to put a lot of people on the sidelines.”

Renault will plough on with their Alpine F1 team, although results have been deteriorating over the past few seasons. Following rebranding the Renault team to its nifty little sports car’s name, Alpine were 5th in 2021 then a mighty 4th the following season before two years in P6 and finally this season at the bottom of the pile.

Renault have recalled legendary team boss Flavio Briatore to revive the fortunes of the F1 team and rumours abound Christian Horner is on his way to Enstone. Yet the once mighty Renault name in Formula One, slipped quietly into the desert night just a week ago today.

 

 

 

FIA fight the teams for F1 rule change

Formula One is never as simple as drivers’ competing for a championship. Behind the scenes is the infamous Piraña club where the levels of power in the sport are pressed.

The FIA is F1’s regulatory body and policeman as they are responsible for setting the technical specifications for F1 along with those which govern sporting practices.

Yet the FIA do not have carte blanche to do as they please in this area, certain rule changes require a simple majority at the F1 commission, whilst others can be vetoed at that time….. READ MORE