Founder: Louis Renault

Best Classification:

1°

First GP:

Great Brittany 1977

Best Qualification:

1°

Last GP:

Brazil 2004

           Best position in the Championship of the World: 2° in 1983

528 points

3,03 pts/GP

17 Victories

36 Pole positions

19 Fast lap in race

52 Podiums

174 Grand Prix

12 Seasons

1 Engine

12 Drivers

14 Models

Renault is the most known French mark in F1. But contrary to Matra, it was never champion of the world. Yet, it was at the origin of the turbo.

The Renault mark counts again among the most former marks in activity. The first Renault was constructed in 1898 by Louis Renault, before his brothers don't found the year follow the society Renault Brothers. The Renault Brothers participates in the first race of history. It is to the wheel of a Renault that the franco-hungarian Ferenc Szisz took back the first GP of history, the GP of the ACF in 1906. In the years 50, Renault participates in the 24 hours of Le Mans. Then it will be necessary to wait for the years 70 to see the return of Renault by sports cars. The Formula 1 begins in 1977.

This experience in the sports cars pushed Renault to the entry of the motor turbo in F1. The French team presented the Renault RS01 therefore with Jean-Pierre Jabouille to the wheel in the GP of Britain. But the car is not reliable, in particular the motor, what will be worth to the first Renault its somewhat pejorative nickname of "Yellow tea-pot" the yellow teapot. In 1978, the situation doesn't manage, in spite of the 4th place of Jabouille in the GP of the USA Est. Another event arrives the same year: Jassaud and Dider Pironi take back the 24 hours of Le Mans with a Renault Alpine turbo. From then on, the F1 was going to win in importance.

In 1979, Jabouille is joined by René Arnoux. The beginning doesn't differentiate in season of the previous years. Happen to the GP of France then, and the exploit: Jabouille wins and Arnoux picks up the 3rd place after a noteworthy duel in the last towers with Gilles Villeneuve. In Britain and to the USA Est, Arnoux finishes 2nd. Renault finishes 6th, the machine is henceforth in walk. The Renault often quits, but when they finish, it is at good places: 3 victories and the 4th place of the ordering.

In 1981, a whiz kid makes his entry in the firm to the lozenge: Alain Prost. As there adding the motor turbo become competitive, the season 1981 rather looks good. The cars are more reliable, Prost takes back 3 race, of which an at home. Renault offers itself the 3rd place to the championship. 1982 are even better, the Renault achieving the doubled Arnoux-Prost, before pilots Ferrari Pironi and Tambay,: the 4 first places to 4 French in the GP of France! Comes then the year 1983, and there, the real opportunity to seize the title. Associated in Cheever, Prost is going to win 4 victories and is in good position for the title. But Piquet and the Brabham come back very quickly, too quickly for Renault that sees his whiz kid losing the title at the time of the last race. Prost was sent back to have been too franc with his car. The only luck to take back the title was flipping.

Renault pursued its career again as constructor two seasons. The biggest stables adopted the turbo and the Renault found themselves of it distant. To Brazil, Warwick could have won, before a grappling with Niki Lauda didn't ruin its odds. To the final, Renault was retrogressed to the 5th place, without victory. 1985 were even worse, in spite of 2 podiums, Renault met 7th of the ordering, and after having seen its frame becoming according to the pilots, the "trailer of the year", Renault threw the sponge as constructor, but remained as motoriste until 1997, equipping the best stables and taking back 6 stocks consecutive constructors.

The rebirth starts in 2000: Renault decides to purchase the Benetton team, but the name of Renault reappears in 2002. After having innovated with the turbo, Renault tempted a motor with a V-shaped angle to 110°. At the time of the first season of the return of this French team, Trulli and Button didn't go up on a podium but with 23 points, Renault finished 4th. In 2003, the team counts on a more effective R23 and a Spanish whiz kid, Fernando Alonso. Since the second GP, in Malaysia, the Renault occupies the first line on the outgoing grid! In Hungary, Alonso picks up the first victory of Renault since 20 years, while putting a tour in Michael Schumacher, quintuple champion in title! Renault will always be 4th, but with a more honorable score: 88 points. In 2004, the Renault is again in the race. A long time the blue and yellow cars will pretend instead vice-champion, as in 1983. Trulli takes back the GP of Monaco, but after the GP of France, the team is in crisis and the results decline. The arrival of Villeneuve only has the situation aggravated, and Renault fails behind Bar-Honda.

Keeping Fernando Alonso for the season 2005, Renault gave the second wheel to Giancarlo Fisichella, already pilot for Benetton before the acquisition.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Julien

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