1977 British GP: Renault’s F1 debutJean-Pierre Jabouille’s Renault RS01 undergoes a tyre change and checks.
Jean-Pierre Jabouille’s Renault RS01 undergoes a tyre change and checks.
Renault made its world championship debut with F1’s first-ever turbocharged automotive, the RS01, which earned the ‘yellow teapot’ moniker as a result of frequency at which smoke emanated from it.
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The only Renault entry at Silverstone was additionally the one one utilizing Michelin tyres, with the rest of the sector on Goodyears.
In a 36-strong subject, Jean-Pierre Jabouille certified 21th, 1.62s off pole place, however endured a cracked inlet manifold on lap 12 and pitted for repairs, earlier than the turbo failed after 16 laps.
1979 French GP: Affected person Jabouille takes Renault’s first victoryJean-Pierre Jabouille, Renault RS10
Jean-Pierre Jabouille, Renault RS10
Jabouille had his fair proportion of hardship in Renault’s early days, with 17 retirements within the model’s first 24 race begins.
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However he went on to win the French Grand Prix at Dijon-Prenois, taking Renault’s and his personal maiden victory after surpassing early race chief Gilles Villeneuve, in a race that has been extra well-known for the Canadian’s breathtaking, wheel-to-wheel battle with Renault’s Rene Arnoux for second place.
1983: Prost narrowly misses out on world titleAlain Prost, Renault RE40 V6
Alain Prost, Renault RE40 V6
Wins turned an increasing number of frequent for Renault, with Alain Prost prevailing at Le Castellet, Spa-Francorchamps, Silverstone and the Oesterreichring (now often known as the Crimson Bull Ring) in 1983, at which level he led the championship by 14 factors – with a victory value 9.
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Prost nevertheless retired from three of the final 4 grands prix, twice with turbo points, dropping the title to Piquet by two factors.
1985 Portuguese GP: Senna takes sensational win as Renault prepares first F1 exitAyrton Senna, Lotus 97T-Renault celebrates 1st place with Workforce Supervisor Peter Warr in parc ferme, portrait
Ayrton Senna, Lotus 97T-Renault celebrates 1st place with Workforce Supervisor Peter Warr in parc ferme, portrait
From 1983 to 1986, Renault additionally equipped its F1 engines to clients – first Lotus, then Ligier too, with Tyrrell finally taking the French powertrains as effectively.
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Lotus had gained only one grand prix since Mario Andretti’s title-winning marketing campaign in 1978, however Ayrton Senna gave the famed staff its first triumph since Colin Chapman’s demise as he dominated a moist Estoril race, successful the Portuguese Grand Prix by multiple minute.
Renault left F1 as a constructor on the finish of the 1985, however nonetheless offered powertrains to all three of its clients in 1986.
1989: Renault returns to F1 as engine supplierThierry Boutsen, Williams FW12C Renault
Thierry Boutsen, Williams FW12C Renault
Renault returned to Formulation 1 as ’ engine provider, switching from its earlier V6 turbo powertrain to a usually aspirated V10.
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Each Thierry Boutsen and Riccardo Patrese retired with technical points within the season-opening race at Jacarepagua, however Boutsen took two victories that 12 months. Each drivers shared one other two wins in 1990, then Nigel Mansell changed the Belgian to develop into Ayrton Senna’s essential challenger; driving Adrian Newey’s FW14, he took 5 wins and three second positions in 1991.
1992: Mansell wins Renault’s first titlePodium: second place Nigel Mansell, Williams Renault, celebrates his world championship victory
Podium: second place Nigel Mansell, Williams Renault, celebrates his world championship victory
Renault added Ligier to its portfolio of groups in 1992, however Williams set the tone with Mansell-Patrese 1-2s within the opening three grands prix; the Englishman gained the primary 5 races of the season and was topped a world champion as early because the Hungarian Grand Prix, in mid-August.
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1993: Prost takes historic fourth crownAlain Prost, Williams celebrates his fourth World Championship success
Alain Prost, Williams celebrates his fourth World Championship success
Williams’ dominance continued in 1993, with Mansell changed by Alain Prost.
The Frenchman comfortably noticed his rivals off, successful seven of the primary 10 grands prix to attain extra factors than anyone would by the tip of the 12 months. Stalling in Hungary and an engine failure at Monza meant he wasn’t formally topped till Estoril, in late September.
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1994: Hill loses title to Schumacher after Senna’s deathDamon Hill, Williams FW16B Renault
Damon Hill, Williams FW16B Renault
Prost retired on the finish of the 1993 season, paving the best way for Ayrton Senna to affix Williams from a struggling outfit, however the Brazilian legend died in a crash on the San Marino Grand Prix.
Inexperienced inherited the staff chief standing in a dominant however tough FW16, and misplaced the title in a controversial collision with championship rival at Adelaide – the place returnee Mansell gained. Williams-Renault nonetheless took the honours within the constructors’ championship.
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1995: Schumacher takes second title in a row with BenettonMichael Schumacher, Benetton
Michael Schumacher, Benetton
Benetton switched from Ford-Cosworth to Renault engines for 1995, that means the French model powered the quickest two vehicles that 12 months. Benetton and Williams gained 16 of the 17 grands prix, with ’s taking his solely F1 victory on his birthday in Montreal, after a late gearbox difficulty for Schumacher.
The German nonetheless gained the title pretty simply, successful greater than half the races himself.
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1996 French GP: Renault’s historic 1-2-3-4Damon Hill, Williams leads at first
Damon Hill, Williams leads at first
The Renault powered-teams’ dominance, although Benetton was on a downward slope, culminated on the 1996 French Grand Prix. Williams took a 1-2 with Hill main rookie , adopted by Benetton’s Alesi and for a 1-2-3-4.
Williams returned to championship glory as Damon Hill clinched the drivers’ title whereas the staff gained 12 of 16 races.
1997: Villeneuve wins title in controversy, Renault exits F1 againJacques Villeneuve, Williams FW19
Jacques Villeneuve, Williams FW19
Williams’ ultimate Newey-designed automotive wasn’t as dominant as its predecessor, and Ferrari was on the rise after Jean Todt put collectively a dream staff, so the 1997 was a intently contested duel between Villeneuve and Schumacher. The Canadian got here out on prime within the final race, at Jerez, the place Schumacher drove into the Williams in a failed try and take it out of the race.
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As early as June 1996, Renault determined to depart F1 on the finish of the 1997 season, with its fixed successful that means diminishing advertising returns. Its powertrain remained used underneath the Mecachrome (Williams in 1998), Supertec (Williams and BAR in 1999, Arrows in 2000) and Playlife (Benetton from 1998 to 2000) monikers. The outdated engine nonetheless took one pole and 12 podiums in three years.
2002: Renault returns as fully-fledged constructorJenson Button, Renault R202 with staff mate Jarno Trulli
Jenson Button, Renault R202 with staff mate Jarno Trulli
Renault bought the Benetton outfit in March 2000, gave the staff its new V10 engine for 2001 and rebranded it as Renault from 2002 onwards. Its first grand prix again, in Melbourne, resulted in a double retirement as was caught up within the first-lap mayhem whereas crashed out a number of laps later.
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Renault claimed fourth within the championship however scored simply 23 factors and didn’t report a single podium end.
2003 Hungarian GP: Alonso brings Renault again on topFernando Alonso, Renault
Fernando Alonso, Renault
Renault was on the rise in 2003. and Trulli locked out the entrance row in Malaysia, then the younger Spaniard gained the Hungarian Grand Prix from pole place as Jaguar’s , who snatched second place at first, backed the pack up behind him.
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By the point cleared Webber, he was already greater than 20 seconds down on Alonso, who led the Finn by 17 seconds underneath the chequered flag and even lapped five-time world champion Schumacher.
2005: Alonso turns into F1’s youngest world championWorld Champion Fernando Alonso, Renault
World Champion Fernando Alonso, Renault
Renault took one other victory with Jarno Trulli within the 2004 Monaco Grand Prix earlier than turning into an actual title contender with its R25.
Kimi Raikkonen’s McLaren MP4-20 was sooner however lacked reliability, paving the best way for Alonso to clinch the title at Interlagos earlier than the French model was topped world constructors’ champion within the Shanghai season finale.
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2006: Alonso beats Schumacher to world title in fascinating duelFernando Alonso, Michael Schumacher
Fernando Alonso, Michael Schumacher
Ferrari returned to success in 2006, in a intently contested season the place Schumacher ate into Alonso’s early lead as Renault progressively misplaced competitiveness – partly resulting from mass dampers being outlawed by the FIA.
The 2 title contenders tackled the penultimate spherical of the season stage on factors at Suzuka, the place Schumacher led his rival till his engine failed, giving Alonso a 10-point lead. Even when the seven-time world champion gained in Brazil, all of the Spaniard needed to do was rating some extent; Alonso completed second at Interlagos, Schumacher fourth after a puncture.
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Renault gained the constructors’ title by simply 5 factors towards Ferrari.
2008 Singapore GP: Alonso wins, however Crashgate results in Renault’s disgraceNelson Piquet Jr., Renault F1 Workforce R28 crashes into the wall
Nelson Piquet Jr., Renault F1 Workforce R28 crashes into the wall
F1’s transfer to new technical guidelines and a single tyre provider, Bridgestone, didn’t pan out fantastically for Renault, which had been utilizing Michelin rubber. 2007 yielded a single podium end, courtesy of , earlier than Alonso returned to the fold alongside Nelson Piquet Jr after curbing his McLaren expertise.
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Renault lay fifth within the standings earlier than the Singapore Grand Prix, on equal factors with fourth-placed Toyota, and had excessive hopes for the Marina Bay race, however a technical difficulty prevented Alonso from setting a time in Q2, leaving him down in fifteenth.
Workforce principal Flavio Briatore and chief engineer Pat Symonds got here up with a plan: Alonso pitted on lap 12 and his team-mate Piquet crashed on lap 14, bringing out the protection automotive.
Again in 2008, when a race was neutralised, the pitlane remained closed till all vehicles had been gathered behind the protection automotive. Subsequently, Alonso discovered himself within the lead when everybody pitted, and gained the race. The conspiracy solely emerged one 12 months later, resulting in Renault rapidly withdrawing in shame.
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2010-2013: Vettel and Crimson Bull take Renault’s final title-winning honoursSebastian Vettel, Crimson Bull RB9 Renault celebrates victory with donuts
Sebastian Vettel, Crimson Bull RB9 Renault celebrates victory with donuts
Crimson Bull acquired Renault engines from 2008 onwards, with these powertrains additionally utilized by Lotus/Caterham from 2011 and Williams from 2012.
Crimson Bull conquered F1 throughout these 4 years, with Vettel successful 4 consecutive titles – two of which, 2010 and 2012, had been shut calls. Renault powered-cars took 44 wins (41 by Crimson Bull, two by the Enstone-based Lotus and one by Williams) in 77 grands prix.
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2014: Renault struggles amid swap to hybrid energy models
Pastor Maldonado, Lotus
Pastor Maldonado, Lotus
F1 switched to hybrid V6 turbo powertrains for 2014. All engine producers struggled with reliability, however was dominant whereas Renault struggled.
The French model nonetheless took all three non-Mercedes grand prix wins as gained in Canada, Hungary and Belgium for Crimson Bull, however Toro Rosso, Lotus and Caterham hardly ever troubled the points-scoring positions.
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2016: Renault returns as constructorKevin Magnussen, Renault Sport F1 Workforce RS16
Kevin Magnussen, Renault Sport F1 Workforce RS16
Renault returned to F1 once more in 2016, aiming at podiums by 2018 and a title problem by 2020.
The 2016 marketing campaign yielded simply eight factors. Issues acquired higher within the subsequent few years, with one podium in 2019 and some extra in 2020 – removed from the preliminary purpose.
In the meantime, Caterham folded, and Crimson Bull and Toro Rosso defected to Honda, whereas McLaren switched to Renault after a bruising expertise with the Japanese producer – and shortly was extra aggressive than the manufacturing unit staff.
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2021 Hungarian GP: Ocon offers Renault its final victoryRace winner Esteban Ocon, Alpine A521
Race winner Esteban Ocon, Alpine A521
In 2021, the Renault outfit morphed into the model, which belongs to the French carmaker, with no different vehicles powered by Renault engines.
Shortly earlier than Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi launched his ill-advised 100-race plan to succeed in the highest of F1 (this was 98 grands prix in the past, and Alpine simply completed final in 2025 the constructors’ championship), gained a memorable Hungarian Grand Prix. The Frenchman made essentially the most of a first-corner pile-up to impeccably lead all through, benefitting from team-mate Fernando Alonso’s hard-fought resistance towards a resurgent .
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2025: Renault forgoes its legacyPierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Regardless of backlash from the Viry-Chatillon manufacturing unit, Renault CEO Luca de Meo (who has since left the corporate) made the choice to change to Mercedes energy for 2026, unceremoniously ending a virtually five-decade-old story in poor trend – as a transparent backmarker with a number of the staff’s worst outcomes ever.
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