Management changes boost Vasseur role at Renault

© WRI2

Following changes to its management structure, Renault Sport F1 have appointed Frédéric Vasseur as team principal and he will now directly oversee the French F1 outfit's performance and results.

Renault Sport Racing president Jerome Stoll also announced that managing director Cyril Abiteboul will be relocating from the manufacturer's engine facilities in Viry, France to the team's base in Enstone.

"In our management structure, Cyril will retain his previous position of managing director," explained Stoll.

"But he will focus his time on the improvements that need to be made to Enstone, as well as the alignment between the two sites of Viry and Enstone. The consequence is that he will move to the UK in the very near future.

"Frederic gains the title team principal of the team and will be responsible for the performance and results of the team.

"He will share his time between a long and demanding F1 season, at all races managing the track operations, and the day-to-day management of the activities in Viry-Chatillon where both Formula 1 engine and customer racing activities are based."

Stoll also underlined the need to boost its staff at Enstone, targeting an increase of around 130 people on both sides of the channel.

"We also have the target of almost 100 extra personnel at Enstone this year, as well as over 30 extra personnel at Viry.

"This is not the work of a moment as we are targeting the very best people in their respective fields."

Renault's late buy-out of Lotus at the end of last year prevented the manufacturer from ramping up its personnel immediately, Stoll insisting the building process is still a work in progress.

"We are at the start of a long project and the steps we have made, and continue to make, are about securing repeatable performance gains and being able to deliver at the highest level for the years to come," he said.

"Seven months ago there was no Renault Formula 1 team so we have achieved a lot, not just getting this year's car out on track, but also in getting all the building blocks in place for sustainable development.

"We keep an ambition to finish in a better position at the end of the year, but will not lose sight of the longer-term objective to fight for podiums as soon as 2018."

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