Renault F1 technical chief Bell moves into advisory role

Renault Formula 1 chief technical officer Bob Bell will step down from his current role to become the team’s technical advisor. 

Bell, who has played a key role in Renault’s progress in the last few years since returning to F1 as a full blown works squad, will take up his new position on a part-time basis. 

Renault described the move as an “evolution” of Bell’s current role, which will see the Northern Irishman take on the responsibility of developing technical collaborations with third parties to explore new avenues that can help boost the team’s on-track performance, reporting directly to managing director Cyril Abiteboul.  

The French manufacturer said Bell had “understandably expressed a desire to move away from front-line action” after over three decades in the sport. Renault also confirmed it will not seek a replacement for Bell’s current position.

“In just two and a half years he has helped to make Renault Sport a genuine and respected points scorer,” said Abiteboul. He’s also a massive part of the heart and soul of the team and a real motivator for everyone to draw together and get the best from themselves and each other.

“Under this planned transition within the team’s executive management, Bob will now look closely at how to work with our partners but also the different stakeholders of Formula 1, and of the Renault Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance, to ensure we continue to move even further up the grid.”