Renault Team is Back in Formula 1
It is official, Renault has officially completed its takeover of the revered British Lotus Formula 1 team and is set to make a return to Formula 1 as a constructor next year in 2016! This means that the insolvency deal that Renault made with the courts to save Lotus has been accepted and the future of the racing team based in Enstone in Oxfordshire is now secure.
What does this mean for World Racing?
This is literally the proverbial “Big Deal”, as Lotus has won four F1 drivers’ titles:
- 2 as Benetton with Michael Schumacher in 1994 and 1995
- 2 as Renault with Fernando Alonso in 2005 and 2006
This means that there is a good chance that this winning streak will continue now that the new deal has been signed, and it is rumoured that now that the Lotus insolvency petition has been dismissed, Renault will now commit to F1 until at least 2024. All of this is good news for world racing and F1 in particular, as the French Vehicle Manufacturing Giant is well regarded in Automotive Racing Circles.
Who Will Lead the New Renault Racing Pack?
A good driver is just as important as a good car, and Renault has already confirmed its drivers for next season as:
- Venezuelan Driver Pastor Maldonado
- British Rookie Driver Jolyon Palmer
Both drivers were already signed by Lotus before the Renault takeover was confirmed, but will remain to help ensure that the new Formula 1 Renault Team get off to a flying start.
The new Renault team will also now be headed up by Frenchman Frederic Vasseur, who is the current successful boss of the ART team in GP2, which is considered to be the feeder racing category for Formula 1.
