Renault launches F1 teamposted in F103 | 02 | 2016
RENAULT TODAY BECAME the first Formula One team to unveil its 2016 car. Held at its Technocentre in Paris, the launch signalled the French manufacturer's return to F1 for the first time since 2011 following its lengthy take-over of Lotus.
England's Jolyon Palmer and former McLaren F1 racer Kevin Magnussen were officially unveiled as the team's race drivers: Esteban Ocon was also confirmed in the reserve role.
Revealed in a stark black livery — which it will use for testing, but is expected to change by the season-opening Australian Grand Prix — the car will be called the RS16.
The team, meanwhile, will be known as Renault Sport Formula 1, and Renault Group CEO Carlos Ghosn conceded it's likely the new works outfit will take two to three years to regularly challenge for a Formula 1 podium.
"We know it's going to be tough," Ghosn said. "We're competing against some top teams. It's going to take two or three years to be back in solid way for the podium.
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"We are working a lot on the engine and we recognise we are starting with a handicap, compared particularly to the winner.
"But we think we have talent, willingness and experience in order to close the gap. We are not here to participate, we are here to compete at the highest level and eventually win.
"We want to get to the point where every time a race starts, Renault is a contender: that is our objective.
"It won't happen in 2016, that would be a miracle, but I'm counting on the team to make improvements to the engine, car, technology to come forward with a competitive car as soon as possible."
And Ghosn was quick to explain why Renault had taken the decision to return to F1 as a full works team, highlighting it came down to how Renault wanted to be viewed as a brand.
"We know very well, when a team wins it is the car and when loses it's engine," he said. "It is a well known thing.
"It doesn't mean we have been perfect. It is one reason why we say, in order to get the best out of f1, we have to be a full works team."
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Jim McGill