Renault Sport F1 has revealed its new car for the 2016 season.
Unveiled at a press conference outside Paris yesterday, it marks Renault’s official re-entry into F1 as a full works team. It’s latest race car – the Renault RS16 – will have a chassis and power unit developed by Renault. Infiniti remains a partner in the continued development of the energy recovery systems. Ongoing development of the RS16 will be split between the team’s base in Enstone, UK and Renault’s tech centre in Viry-Châtillon.
At the reveal, Renault chairman Carlos Ghosn spoke of the former champion’s determination to once more top the F1 championship and announced the new team’s official name – Renault Sport F1. It’s motorsport division also undergoes a restructure and is now known as Renault Sport Racing division to be headed by Jérôme Stoll who will oversee all of Renault’s motorsport efforts, including its Renault e.dams Formula E team.
ART Grand Prix’s Frederic Vasseur was also confirmed as Racing Director for the new team, while Bob Bell, who left Manor in October, was announced as Chief Technical Officer.
Renault confirmed that Kevin Magnussen will team up with Jolyon Palmer to pilot the new car. Magnussen replaces Pastor Maldonado.
Official F1 testing will get underway later in February with the season’s opener kicking off in Melbourne on March 20.