Renault Highlights in Formula 1 

Renault has had a long and storied history in Formula 1. The team has experienced success both as a constructor and as an engine supplier, mostly memorable for mid-2000s success and collaboration with Williams and Red Bull. It has many defining moments in the championship, so take a look at Renault highlights in Formula 1. If you are not a fan of Renault, you might be interested in the history of McLaren in Formula 1.

Renault Highlights in Formula 1: Early Years 

Renault entered Formula 1 as a constructor in 1977 with the RS01 car, featuring a turbocharged engine, a pioneering move at the time. The team was infamous for having constant reliability issues while having a good race or leading it. They eventually achieved some sort of success, with the Renault RS10 winning its first race at the 1979 French Grand Prix with Jean-Pierre Jabouille. 

Alain Prost drove for Renault in the early 1980s and was close to winning the 1982 season if it wasn’t for mechanical retirements. The car was the fastest on the grid but prone to engine failures. Renault continued to compete as a constructor until 1985.

Withdrawal and Return as an Engine Supplier

After withdrawing as a constructor, Renault remained in Formula 1 as an engine supplier. They provided engines to several teams, the most successful of which were Williams, Benetton, and Ligier. Yes, they were in the lead back in the 20th century, but their current odds at online sportsbooks in Australia are far from the best.

During this period, Renault-powered cars won multiple Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships in 1992, 1993, 1994 (Constructors’ Title only), 1995, 1996, and 1997. By late 1990s they remained an exclusive supplier for Benetton manager Flavio Briatore, who had a plan of making a comeback for Renault.

Renault’s Return as a Constructor 

In 2002, Renault returned as a full-fledged constructor. The team achieved considerable success in the mid-2000s under the management of Flavio Briatore and the technical direction of Pat Symonds. That year, Renault was the “best of the rest” team, as in 2003, where Fernando Alonso brought Renault its first win in almost 40 years. 

Renault won back-to-back Constructors’ Championships in 2005 and 2006, with Alonso securing the Drivers’ Championship in both years. In the late 2000s, results dropped and apart from two wins in 2008, courtesy of Alonso, the team did not achieve any considerable success and was sold. As an engine supplier, things were going great for Renault. They went on to win four Drivers’ and four Constructors’ titles from 2010 to 2014 with Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel. 

Renault highlights in Formula 1: Transition to Lotus 

In 2011, Renault sold the majority of its team shares to Genii Capital, and the team was rebranded as Lotus Renault GP. The team continued to use Renault engines and brought Kimi Räikkönen from WRC back to Formula 1. He went on to achieve success during this period with Lotus, claiming two wins and multiple podiums. 

At the same time, Kimi Räikkönen was another reason for Lotus’s eventual bankruptcy. According to his contract, he was getting paid 50,000 euros for each point he got. Kimi scored 390 in 2012 and the team was supposed to pay him 19.5 million euros, but they did not since they were not in possession of such funds. As you might remember from Ivibet, the results went down in the mid-2010s and the team was bought back by Renault in 2016.

Return as Renault

Renault reacquired the Lotus team and returned to Formula 1 as the Renault Sport Formula One Team in 2016. The team has had varying levels of success in recent years, aiming to rebuild and establish itself as a competitive force in the sport.

Their most successful season of that period was 2020 where Daniel Riccardo scored multiple podiums and fought for 4th in the standings until the last race.

Renault highlights in Formula 1: Rebranding 

At the last Grand Prix of 2020, Renault announced the rebranding of its Formula 1 team as Alpine F1 Team, aligning with the Alpine brand, Renault’s sports car division. The team retained its commitment to Formula 1 under this new identity and invited retired Fernando Alonso, who’s currently in top-5 drivers at online gambling sites in Australia. So far they have scored one famous win by Esteban Ocon, although mostly due to Alonso’s defensive masterclass against Lewis Hamilton at Hungaroring. 

In 2022, Alonso’s relationship soured with the team, and he left for Aston Martin. The team’s management has not been great over the past two years as only a week after Alonso’s move to Aston Martin; Oscar Piastri, Renault’s protégé at the time, also announced that he will not be driving for the team.

Throughout its history in Formula 1, Renault has played a significant role in the development of technology, particularly with its early adoption of turbocharged engines. The team has seen periods of both success and challenges, contributing to the rich tapestry of Formula 1 history. For its lack of properly professional management, Renault covered it with successes that are hard to achieve, especially as an engine supplier.

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