Renault started racing in Formula One at the 1977 British Grand Prix and immediately made a bold statement with its RS01, namely the first turbocharged car ever to compete in the sport. While teething engine problems initially earned it the nickname of “Yellow Teapot”, it only took Renault a couple of years to perfect the V6 turbo technology and make it a winner on home soil, with Jean-Pierre Jabouille securing victory at the 1979 French Grand Prix.

After finally completing its takeover of Lotus to return as a works outfit in 2016, Renault will look to emulate that sort of improvement following a pair of challenging campaigns in the new 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged era.

Julien Billiotte

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