Vasseur leaves Renault!

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Renault Sport has announced that Frédéric Vasseur will be leaving his role as team principal of the manufacturers Formula 1 team.

After a first season spent relaunching and rebuilding its Formula 1 team, Renault Sport Racing and Frédéric Vasseur have agreed by mutual consent to part company, effective as of today.

Both parties remain committed to maintaining the good working relationship they have enjoyed and expect this to take a new form sometime in the future.

The outlook of Renault's second season back in Formula 1, as well as the resources implemented to meet them, will be set out in detail at the presentation of the team's new race car.

The Renault Sport Racing and the Formula 1 team continue to be managed by Jérôme Stoll, its President, and Cyril Abiteboul, its Managing Director.

Renault's Stoll: Hulkenberg a perfect fit

Vasseur was named team principal at Renault just a year ago upon the manufacturers' return as a full works team to Grand Prix racing following its take-over of Lotus at the end of 2015.

The Frenchman's credentials at the time included running ART with great success in several junior formulae, where Vasseur nurtured the talent of Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Valtteri Bottas, Nico Rosberg and Jules Bianchi making them - and many more-– champions on their pathway to F1.

The departure of a pivotal element of the Renault staff, and a man perceived by all as a great asset to the team, is surely a reflection of a more important underlying problem.Watch this space..

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.