Get ready for a thrilling journey through time as we delve into Renault's remarkable F1 legacy! A Farewell to a Racing Legend.
1977 British GP: The Birth of a Racing Icon
Renault's F1 journey began with a bang, introducing the RS01, the first-ever turbocharged car in F1. Affectionately nicknamed the 'yellow teapot' due to its frequent smoke displays, it made a bold entrance at Silverstone. With Michelin tires, a unique choice among Goodyear-equipped competitors, Jean-Pierre Jabouille qualified 21st, but his race was cut short by mechanical issues.
But here's where it gets controversial...
1979 French GP: Jabouille's Patience Pays Off
After 17 retirements in 24 races, Jabouille finally tasted victory at Dijon-Prenois. This win, Renault's first, was overshadowed by the epic battle for second between Gilles Villeneuve and Rene Arnoux. A true testament to Renault's perseverance!
1983: Prost's Narrow Miss
Alain Prost dominated the 1983 season with wins at Le Castellet, Spa, Silverstone, and the Osterreichring. Leading the championship by 14 points, he seemed destined for the title. However, retirements in the final races, often due to turbo issues, cost him the crown, losing to Piquet by a mere two points.
1985 Portuguese GP: Senna's Sensational Win
Ayrton Senna, driving for Lotus, dominated the wet Estoril race, securing a win by over a minute. This triumph marked Lotus' first victory since Colin Chapman's passing. Renault's decision to leave F1 as a constructor at the end of 1985 was a surprising move, especially as they continued to supply engines to their customers.
1989: Renault's Return as an Engine Supplier
Renault made a comeback in F1, this time as Williams' engine supplier, switching to a normally aspirated V10. Thierry Boutsen and Riccardo Patrese faced technical issues in the opening race, but Boutsen went on to win twice that year. The Williams duo continued their success in 1990 and 1991, with Nigel Mansell joining and challenging Ayrton Senna.
1992: Mansell's Championship Victory
Renault expanded its portfolio by adding Ligier, but it was Williams that dominated with Mansell and Patrese securing 1-2 finishes in the first three grands prix. Mansell's early season dominance saw him crowned world champion at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
1993: Prost's Historic Fourth Crown
Williams' dominance continued with Alain Prost replacing Mansell. Prost comfortably secured his fourth world championship, winning seven of the first ten grands prix. Despite stalling in Hungary and an engine failure at Monza, he officially claimed the title in Estoril.
1994: Hill's Tragic Loss
Ayrton Senna's tragic death at the San Marino Grand Prix saw Damon Hill take over as team leader. Hill's dominant but tricky FW16 led him to a controversial collision with Michael Schumacher at Adelaide, losing the title. However, Williams-Renault still took the constructors' championship.
1995: Schumacher's Second Consecutive Title
Benetton, powered by Renault engines, dominated the 1995 season. Schumacher won more than half the races, easily securing the title. Ferrari's Jean Alesi, on his birthday, took his only F1 victory in Montreal.
1996 French GP: Renault's Historic 1-2-3-4
The Renault-powered teams' dominance culminated at the French Grand Prix. Williams took a 1-2, followed by Benetton's Alesi and Berger, securing a remarkable 1-2-3-4 finish.
1997: Villeneuve's Controversial Win, Renault's Exit
Williams' final Newey-designed car couldn't match its predecessor's dominance. The 1997 season saw a close duel between Villeneuve and Schumacher, with the Canadian winning the last race at Jerez. In a controversial move, Schumacher drove into the Williams, attempting to take Villeneuve out of the race. Renault decided to leave F1 again, with its engines being used under different monikers.
2002: Renault's Full Constructor Return
Renault purchased the Benetton outfit, rebranded it, and returned as a full constructor in 2002. Their first grand prix back ended in disappointment with a double retirement. Renault claimed fourth in the championship but struggled to record a podium finish.
2003 Hungarian GP: Alonso's Triumph
Renault's rise continued in 2003. Fernando Alonso and Jarno Trulli locked out the front row in Malaysia, and Alonso went on to win the Hungarian Grand Prix. By the time Kimi Raikkonen cleared Mark Webber, he was already over 20 seconds behind Alonso, who led by 17 seconds under the chequered flag.
2005: Alonso's Historic Achievement
Renault's R25 made them a title contender. Alonso clinched the title at Interlagos, becoming F1's youngest world champion. The French brand was crowned world constructors' champion in the Shanghai season finale.
2006: Alonso vs. Schumacher
Ferrari returned to success in 2006, with Schumacher eating into Alonso's early lead. The season saw a fascinating duel between the two, with Renault gradually losing competitiveness. Alonso beat Schumacher to the world title, with Renault winning the constructors' title by just five points.
2008 Singapore GP: Crashgate Scandal
Renault's move to Bridgestone tires didn't go as planned. The team struggled, managing just one podium finish in 2007. The Singapore Grand Prix saw a controversial plan by team principal Flavio Briatore and chief engineer Pat Symonds. Alonso pitted on lap 12, and his teammate Piquet crashed on lap 14, bringing out the safety car. Alonso found himself in the lead when everyone pitted, winning the race. This conspiracy only emerged a year later, leading to Renault's disgraceful withdrawal.
2010-2013: Vettel and Red Bull's Dominance
Red Bull, powered by Renault engines, dominated F1 during these years. Vettel won four consecutive titles, with Renault-powered cars taking 44 wins. Lotus and Williams also secured wins during this period.
2014: Renault's Struggle with Hybrid Power
F1's switch to hybrid V6 turbo powertrains in 2014 saw Renault struggle with reliability. Despite this, they managed to secure all three non-Mercedes grand prix wins. Daniel Ricciardo won in Canada, Hungary, and Belgium for Red Bull.
2016: Renault's Return as a Constructor
Renault returned to F1 in 2016, aiming for podiums by 2018 and a title challenge by 2020. However, the 2016 campaign yielded just eight points. The team improved in the following years, securing a few podiums, but fell short of their initial goals.
2021 Hungarian GP: Ocon's Memorable Win
In 2021, the Renault outfit became the Alpine brand. Esteban Ocon won a memorable Hungarian Grand Prix, leading throughout and benefiting from teammate Fernando Alonso's resistance against Lewis Hamilton.
2025: Renault's Legacy Comes to an End
Despite backlash, Renault CEO Luca de Meo decided to switch to Mercedes power for 2026, ending their F1 story as a backmarker with some of the team's worst results. A sad end to a legendary journey.
And this is the part most people miss... Renault's F1 legacy is a story of perseverance, dominance, and controversy. From their early struggles to their multiple world championships, Renault has left an indelible mark on the sport. What's your take on Renault's F1 journey? Share your thoughts in the comments!
