Renault is one of several teams that has undergone massive transformation in recent years, though its change in shape was not prompted by the worldwide recession, but by one of Formula 1’s most notorious scandals.
The revelation that number two driver Nelson Piquet had crashed deliberately to help Renault’s strategy in the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix led to the departure of high-profile team boss Flavio Briatore and technical ace Pat Symonds, plus many sponsors.
Renault committed to keeping the team in F1, but quietly scaled down its role to engine supplier as entrepreneur Gerard Lopez’s Genii organisation came in as the new owner, installed genial Frenchman Eric Boullier as team boss, and attracted Lotus Cars as a title sponsor.
Though the latter change led to new controversy as Tony Fernandes’ Lotus team was adamant it had the rights to use the Lotus brand in F1, the ongoing row has not overshadowed the excitement at Renault’s gradual progress back towards title contention.
However just as confidence grew that its radical 2011 car could launch Renault back to the front, it was shaken by the horrible injuries its lead driver Robert Kubica suffered in a rally crash.
Supersub Nick Heidfeld will now spearhead Renault’s efforts, alongside the improving Vitaly Petrov, and though Heidfeld didn’t quite show Kubica’s superstar tendencies when they were BMW team-mates, he has proved he is more than good often to win races if the Renault R27 is as good as it appears it might be.
F1 track record
Renault became synonymous with success as an engine supplier in the 1990s, when it powered Williams to four world championships and Benetton to the 1995 titles, but until 2005 it had never won the crown as a chassis constructor.
In 1977 its first works programme had changed the face of F1, as Renault introduced 1.5-litre turbocharged engines.
It was initially the butt of derision – but soon the entire grid was jumping on the turbo bandwagon, and Renault found itself overhauled by rivals.
The closest it came to a championship was in 1983, when Alain Prost narrowly lost out to Nelson Piquet and Brabham-BMW.
After two further, less productive seasons, Renault closed its works team altogether.
It soon erased memories of that troubled operation when it revived its factory team in the 2000s.
This time the company purchased an existing team – 1994-95 title winner Benetton – to form the basis of its outfit.
Times were hard at first, as the radical 2001 car initially proved embarrassingly uncompetitive.
But Benetton had not been at its finest in its twilight years and a rebuilding process was always going to be necessary.
Renault methodically worked forward, and by 2003 it was a regular front-runner again, with Fernando Alonso taking the works team’s first win in 20 years in Hungary.
Jarno Trulli’s glorious Monaco victory aside, Renault spent 2004 watching from the lower steps of the podium as Ferrari blitzed F1, but the following two years were a different story.
The team began both 2005 and 2006 in dominant form, allowing Alonso to build substantial points leads by the middle of each season.
In 2005 it was Kimi Raikkonen’s faster but more fragile McLaren that bore down on Alonso in the second half of the year, but the Spaniard had enough in hand to claim the title for Renault.
Schumacher and Ferrari proved tougher still in 2006, and even briefly sneaked into the championship lead in the closing stages, before Alonso and Renault prevailed again.
Things went downhill thereafter – Alonso made an ill-fated single-season switch to McLaren, tyre supplier Michelin (which Renault was highly in-tune with) left F1, and budget reductions impacted on Renault’s design resources.
After 16 wins in 2005-06, a single podium in 2007 was a massive disappointment, but a late 2008 resurgence raised Renault’s spirits and expectations for 2009.
They were brutally dashed when the ‘09 car proved mediocre, and worse was to follow when the Singapore scandal emerged, setting in motion the events that led to the team’s winter transformation.
Under Boullier and Lopez, and with Kubica on board, Renault made great strides in 2010, regaining its self-respect, proving it was still one of F1’s sharpest race teams, and suggesting it could still recapture its mid-2000s glory days given time and stability.
Strengths: Still has many of the ingenious racers behind its last title triumphs, and has been tenacious in adversity.
Weaknesses: Has ground to make up still, and has been deprived of the excellent Kubica.
What it brings to F1: Innovative designs and strategies, and underdog spirit, make this one of the most exciting teams to follow.
F1 highlight: Title glory with Alonso in 2005/6.
Lowest ebb: The Singapore scandal and its fallout.
Goals for 2011: Rediscover the winning habit.