Renault to Reveal Full F1 Team Details at Paris Event in February
Renault completed its takeover of the Lotus F1 team and will announce its new team name, management and partners at a dedicated Paris event in February 2016.
Renault has finalised its acquisition of the Lotus Formula One team and will announce the full details of its return as a works outfit during a dedicated event in Paris in February 2016. The French manufacturer confirmed the buyout was completed in December 2015, following a joint statement with the Enstone-based team.
The deal was finalised after a London insolvency judge approved Renault’s plan to repay the substantial debts accumulated by Lotus during the 2015 season. Renault is now responsible for settling these liabilities within days of the announcement, clearing the way for the team’s rebranding and preparations for the 2016 campaign.
Paris launch to clarify team structure and partners
Renault stated that the new team name, full management structure, key partners and other details would be unveiled at an event in Paris in February. Until then, several aspects remain unconfirmed. Jerome Stoll and Cyril Abiteboul are set to be part of the senior leadership, though the precise roles for Frederic Vasseur and Alain Prost have not been officially detailed. The future of Lotus’s contracted 2016 drivers, Pastor Maldonado and Jolyon Palmer, was also uncertain at the time of the announcement.
Renault’s technical teams are working to have the 2016 car ready for pre-season testing in Barcelona, scheduled for the end of February. The team’s livery and identity are expected to be part of the Paris reveal, with further announcements on the driver line-up to follow. The launch will be streamed live from Renault’s Technocentre in Guyancourt on 3 February 2016.
Outstanding questions ahead of 2016 season
At the time of the announcement, Renault had not confirmed whether Pastor Maldonado and Jolyon Palmer would remain as race drivers. By early February, it was expected that Kevin Magnussen would join Palmer, following Maldonado’s departure from the squad. The team’s management structure was also still to be clarified, with speculation around the involvement of Frederic Vasseur and Alain Prost.
- Team name and branding to be confirmed in Paris
- Final driver line-up for 2016 season pending official announcement
- Full management structure and partner list to be revealed at launch
Renault’s return to full works status marks the end of a turbulent period for the Enstone team, previously operating as Lotus under financial strain. The upcoming Paris event is set to provide clarity on the new era for the squad and its ambitions for the 2016 Formula One season.
