Koskas to replace Stoll as Renault Sport president in 2019

Thierry Koskas will replace Jerome Stoll as the head of Renault’s racing programme as the French manufacturer looks to improve its Formula 1 title aspirations.

Koskas will takeover the role of president of Renault Sport on January 1 2019, with Stoll set to retire from the position at the end of the current campaign.

Stoll became Renault Sport president in 2016 as part of the squad’s return to full factory team status and outlined the French manufacturer’s vision of reaching the “highest level” of F1 in a two-stage plan.

Koskas will assume the position in line with the start of the second phase of the team’s rebuilding project after spending three years as Renault’s sales and marketing executive vice president.

Renault looks set to clinch fourth place in the 2018 F1 constructors’ championship behind leading teams Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull in what would represent the team’s best finish since returning as a works outfit in 2016.

Following a five-year spell under the Lotus banner, the French manufacturer finished ninth in 2016 before improving to sixth spot in 2017.

Renault has bolstered its technical department with the signing of Marcin Budkowski from the FIA, while it has lured Daniel Ricciardo away from Red Bull for 2019.

Its power unit remains its biggest weakness and has lagged behind the engines of Mercedes and Ferrari during the V6 hybrid era, leading Red Bull to end its long-term association with Renault in favour of a switch to Honda power from next year.