Will Prost lead Renault works team?

As the new year gets underway, the spotlight will be shining on Renault as the French company returns as a fully works effort to Grand Prix racing in 2016.

While news of the team's official managing structure has yet to be released, rumors - fueled by former team owner Giancarlo Minardi - have emerged that former quadruple World Champion Alain Prost himself could return to the helm as Renault's team principal.

Prost is said to have the full support of Renault Chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn to fulfill the required duties.

"The job of team principal is no longer the sole responsibility of one man," said Renault Sport F1 manager Cyril Abiteboul to F1i.

"To see this, you just need to look at Mercedes where responsibilities are split between Toto Wolff, Paddy Lowe and Niki Lauda. A modern-day Formula 1 team is structured in this way, and I believe this will be the case at Renault as well."

Abiteboul himself may also be involved in the day to day running of the Enstone-based squad while other names often cited to inherit various duties are Bob Bell and Frédéric Vasseur, the latter having recently managed the successful destiny of ART Grand Prix.

In any case, Renault's final organizational structure should be revealed in the coming weeks.

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