The classic Renault yellow and black colours made a welcome return to Formula One with the team unveiling the new R30 at Valencia.
The French-based squad also announced that GP2 driver Vitaly Petrov as the new team-mate to Robert Kubica, forming an exciting driver line-up for the 2010 season.
Twenty-five year-old Petrov, the 2009 runner-up in the GP2 series, becomes the first Russian Formula One driver in the history of the sport.
Petrov will be partnering Polish star Kubica at Renault, who is hoping to turn around the team’s fortunes following a frustrating 2009 season in which Renault only scored 26 points on its way to eighth place in the championship.
The crashgate scandal didn’t help matters, in which title sponsor ING and partner Mutua Madrilena pulled out with immediate effect following the controversy.
In an attempt to put the past behind, the new livery signals a fresh new start for the team. It looks fantastic and in fact, the colour scheme resembles what the old Renault team used when it first entered Formula One back in 1977.
Just like the BMW Sauber and McLaren, the new Renault features the shark fin engine cover.
New team boss Eric Boullier has said he is looking forward to the new Formula One season.
“The start of a new Formula 1 season is always a time of great anticipation,” said Boullier. “For Renault, this is particularly true of the 2010 season as we begin a new era for the team.
“With a new structure in place, new drivers, and new colours, there is a lot to be excited about and a lot to look forward to in the year ahead.
“Setting objectives is never easy, but it’s clear that we have high ambitions for 2010 as we aim to take Renault back to the front of the grid. However, this is not going to happen overnight and our ambition is to make this journey one step at a time.
“The R30 should be a competitive, strong and reliable car and we’ve opted for an aggressive development strategy. The factories in Enstone and Viry have been working flat-out during the long winter months to ensure that we begin the new season in the best shape possible. These factories have been successful in the past and they haven’t forgotten how to win in Formula 1.”
Can Renault return back to winning ways? Well the paint job certainly looks the part. It is now down to the driving talent of Petrov and Kubica to deliver the results.
News articles on the new R30 from Renault.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81147
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2010/01/31/renault-r30-launched-pictures/
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2010/01/31/vitaly-petrov-to-become-russias-first-f1-driver-with-renault-in-2010/
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/1/10381.html
I do love that retro livery!
Interviews with Renault’s team boss Eric Boullier, technical editor James Allison and managing director Bob Bell. Links taken from Autosport.com
Q&A with Boullier – http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81148
Q&A with Allison – http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81149
Q&A with Bell – http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81150
The Renault featuring the striking livery is in fact last season’s car (R29) and not the proper 2010 model (R30). See the link for details:
http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/formula-1-news/227094/petrov-joins-kubica-as-renault-reveals-r30-livery/
F1 Fanatic has provided a side-by-side comparison of the R29 and R30. See the link here:
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2010/01/31/2010-renault-r30-and-2009-renault-r29-compared-pictures/
In addition, check out the official YouTube launch of the new Renault,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6Xo7whWpcY
Robert Kubica says he is comfortable with the structure and approach of the Renault team despite the changes the team underwent during the winter.
After weeks of uncertainty over its future in the sport, Renault announced it was selling part of the team to the Luxembourg-based Genii Capital, a company led by businessman Gerard Lopez.
The team also has a new team principal in Eric Boullier.
After the changes, Kubica sought reassurances, as he had signed with Renault before the reshuffle.
But the Pole now says he is happy with what he has seen.
“There have been quite a lot of changes during the winter. Not many, but a few very significant,” Kubica told reporters during the launch of the new car.
“But after a bit of uncertain days we quite liked the approach of the new owners of the team, and the way the team will approach the season, so it was quite easy, especially as I visited the factory a few times during the winter and I liked the way the team works and how everything looks.
“I’m not saying facilities wise, but how the people approach racing. I think we have quite a lot of commons goals in the way we see how we should approach this season.”
He added: “You can see that during the winter many things happened and there were many uncertain things. The general feeling was always good and I never had to worry about the possibility of leaving Renault, which didn’t happen. In Abu Dhabi I found a funny story from journalist who said Renault will retire, why don’t you sign with Toyota?”
Kubica, whose team endured a difficult 2009 season, admitted it was very hard to judge what Renault’s form will be this year.
“To be honest I think it’s very difficult to judge where we will be standing. There’s everything to discover. Of course there are names like Ferrari, McLaren and maybe Red Bull, maybe Mercedes, but you never know.”
“Everything has to be discovered and I think after the end of February we will have a bit more of an idea. We have quite a good programme to improve the car in February and that’s for sure what will have a big effect on our performance.”
Source: Autosport.com
Wow its a Jordan isnt it?!!
Don’t like the tiger stripes on the back either.
Not sure how they’ll do this year. Just cant see the driving talent will get the most out of this car and be up there with the big boys. I dont rate/like Kubica anyways. It’s been a very tough after season for them and I don’t think this will be the year that they recover from it.