Renault has announced it will hold a “season opener” event on February 12th, the day after Ferrari launches its new Formula 1 car.
However the French manufacturer has not confirmed whether it will present its 2020 chassis at the event.The team issued a brief statement announcing its “2020 Formula 1 season opener”. RaceFans understands it will take place at its flagship Atelier Renault dealership on the Champs-Elysees in Paris (pictured). Team principal Cyril Abiteboul and drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon will attend.
The team has previously used similar events to showcase its new livery for an upcoming season on a prior-year car.
Questions remain over Renault’s future commitment to Formula 1. It returned as a full manufacturer in 2016 but has failed to score a podium finish in that time. Red Bull stopped using its power units at the end of 2018 and when McLaren switches to Mercedes after this season Renault will have no engine customers left.
The company’s previous CEO Thierry Bollore was believed to have been considering whether to withdraw from the sport. Interim CEO Clotilde Delbos said last year its F1 programme is under review.
Renault finished fourth in the constructors championship in 2018 but fell to fifth last year.
Get all the 2020 F1 race weekend session times plus test and launch dates on your mobile device using the RaceFans F1 Calendar
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
2020 F1 season
- Pictures: Wrecked chassis from Grosjean’s Bahrain fireball crash to go on display
- Bottas vs Rosberg: Hamilton’s Mercedes team mates compared after 78 races each
- F1 revenues fell by $877 million in Covid-struck 2020 season
- Hamilton and Mercedes finally announce new deal for 2021 season
- F1 audience figures “strong” in 2020 despite dip in television viewers
JohnH (@johnrkh)
15th January 2020, 19:41
Of what I have read and heard on various F1 sites Renault are putting in a huge effort to try and salvage something from 2019. In 2020 they need to prove they can compete against Ferrari, Merc and RB. They can only do that by beating them on track. In short Renault are going to need a spectacular yr, all I can say to that is bring it on.
I wonder if it will turn out to be to little to late? Renaults decision to remain or not in F1 will come back to returns. I may be just as beneficial for them to sell off the F1 team and move on to other endeavours. I think that would be a bit of a sad ending.
NS Biker (@rekibsn)
15th January 2020, 22:18
It would be unfortunate to loose a full Works Team. Very unfortunate.
Regardless of how the F1 fans feel about it, put yourself in the President’s seat. You want to cut costs, demonstrate leadership and a show a clear break from prior management groups … sounds like a Monty Python skit … “The end is nigh.”
It will come down to how much cache’ does Renault get out of the F1 effort and expense, and does it help sell product.?