Renault shakes up F1 team management

Renault has restructured its Formula 1 management at both its Enstone and Viry bases with focus on the rules shake up set to be introduced for 2021.

With Renault continuing to invest and develop its F1 squad as part of its long-term target of returning to the front of the gird, a total of three new management positions have been created adding depth to both its engine and chassis programmes.

At its engine base in Viry-Chatillon, Christophe Mary will become director of engineering, starting on August 1^st, with Stephane Rodriguez made project and purchasing director with both reporting to engine technical director Remi Taffin.

Mary, who has 14 years of experience at Ferrari and four years at Mercedes HPE, moves to Renault from his previous role as chief systems and powertrain engineer at PSA Motorsport.

At Enstone, where the team is based and develops its F1 cars, deputy chief designer Matt Harman – who joined from Mercedes last year – has been named engineering director and will report to technical head Nick Chester.

All three will now sit on Renault’s F1 management board and in a statement Renault hopes the new appointments will “allow Nick and Remi to increase their focus on performance” both on immediate and future projects.

“Beyond their impact on the 2019 and 2020 seasons, these changes are a significant step towards preparing both organisations to the challenges of the 2021 season and meeting the objectives of the roadmap set in 2016,” a Renault statement confirmed.

Renault finished fourth in last year’s F1 world constructors’ championship and are currently seventh in this season’s standings – six points off McLaren in fourth place after the opening four rounds.