Renault

Renault is the French automaker that has shaped Formula 1 more than any other constructor outside of Ferrari, despite never building a long-running championship dynasty under its own name. Renault introduced the turbocharged engine to F1 in 1977 with the RS01 — a technological revolution that, within a decade, had every front-running team using turbos. Renault's own F1 effort was sporadic, but its engine division supplied the championship-winning Williams of Mansell and Hill in the early 1990s, the Benetton of Schumacher in 1995, and the Red Bull dynasty of Vettel from 2010-2013. As a constructor, Renault won back-to-back championships with Fernando Alonso in 2005 and 2006. The Enstone factory, originally Toleman, then Benetton, then Renault, then Lotus F1, then Renault again, then Alpine, has won six Constructors' titles under various names — the same building, the same DNA.

Origins

Renault entered Formula 1 in 1977 with the Renault RS01 — the first turbocharged car in F1 history. Designed by André de Cortanze and Jean-Pierre Jabouille, the RS01 was a yellow and white teapot that smoked and broke down constantly through 1977-1978. Critics nicknamed it the "Yellow Teapot" for its frequent retirements with engine failures. But Renault persisted. Jabouille won the 1979 French Grand Prix at Dijon — the first F1 victory for a turbocharged car, and the moment that proved the technology worked. Within four years, every top team had a turbo. Renault's F1 ambition was driven by motorsport director Gérard Larrousse and the company's senior leadership, who saw F1 as the ultimate showcase for the company's engineering capabilities.

Golden Era

Renault as a works team had two distinct eras: the early-1980s turbo years (Alain Prost won races but no championship — losing the 1983 title in a controversial finale at Kyalami) and the 2005-2006 championship era (Fernando Alonso won back-to-back Drivers' titles, with Renault taking both Constructors' titles). The 2005-2006 cars (R25 and R26) were technically excellent, with V10 and then V8 engines and innovative mass dampers (later banned). Renault's success was rooted in the Enstone factory's unbroken engineering heritage going back to Toleman/Benetton. As an engine supplier, Renault powered six Constructors' titles for Williams (1992, 1993, 1996, 1997) and Benetton (1995), then four more for Red Bull (2010-2013). The Renault V10 and V8 of the 2000s were among the most reliable engines on the grid.

Legendary Cars

The RS01 (1977) was the turbo pioneer. The RE40 (1983) was Prost's near-championship car. The R25 (2005) was Alonso's first championship car. The R26 (2006) was the second. The R28 (2008) was uncompetitive but improved. The R29 (2009) was disastrous, partly due to FIA-mandated diffuser rules that disadvantaged Renault's design. The 2010-2013 Renault-engined Red Bulls (RB6, RB7, RB8, RB9) won four consecutive double championships under Renault power. The 2014 introduction of turbo-hybrid V6 engines was a disaster for Renault — the Energy F1-2014 power unit was uncompetitive against Mercedes' PU106A. The Renault PU never recovered through the 2014-2021 era; Red Bull switched to Honda for 2019, ending the partnership that had won four titles.

Lows & Reinventions

Renault's lows are operatic. The 2007 "Spygate" scandal involved Renault's spying on McLaren's RD techniques (lesser-known sister case to the Ferrari-McLaren saga). The 2008 "Crashgate" scandal — where Nelson Piquet Jr. was instructed to crash deliberately at Singapore to bring out a safety car favoring Alonso — caused Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds to be banned and Renault's reputation devastated. The team withdrew as a works team after 2010, supplying engines only. Renault returned as a works team in 2016 by buying back Lotus F1 (which had been Renault from 2002-2010). The 2016-2020 Renault works era produced one podium (2020 Eifel GP, Daniel Ricciardo) and steady but unspectacular results. The team rebranded to Alpine in 2021. Renault remains as engine supplier to Alpine but has announced withdrawal from F1 engine manufacture for 2026 — Alpine will use customer Mercedes power units.

Modern Era

Renault as an F1 constructor no longer exists; the Enstone team races as Alpine F1 Team since 2021. The 2026 regulations were a critical decision point: Renault chose to abandon its in-house power unit program, ending a presence that had supplied F1 engines almost continuously since 1977. The Viry-Châtillon engine factory will be repurposed. Alpine's 2026 challenger uses Mercedes power units. Renault's brand is preserved through Alpine, but the iconic yellow Renault F1 cars have not raced since 2020. The legacy is profound: Renault introduced the turbo, supplied championship-winning engines for four decades, and won two titles as a constructor. Few F1 stories combine such technical pioneering with such erratic championship execution. The Enstone factory continues, the names change, but the engineering culture remains continuous from Rory Byrne's Toleman to today's Alpine.