Renault teases RS20 F1 pre-season shots
Renault has teased its 2020 Formula 1 colours for the R.S.20 with help from Daniel Ricciardo and new driver Esteban Ocon.
With Renault looking to bounce back from an underwhelming 2019 campaign when its climb up the F1 pecking order stalled by dropping behind McLaren and into fifth place in the world constructors’ championship, the French manufacturer has freshened up its technical and driver formation with Ocon joining alongside Daniel Ricciardo, while Guanyu Zhou has been promoted to a test driver role following Jack Aitken’s exit from the team fold.
Renault has teased its 2020 Formula 1 colours for the R.S.20 with help from Daniel Ricciardo and new driver Esteban Ocon.
With Renault looking to bounce back from an underwhelming 2019 campaign when its climb up the F1 pecking order stalled by dropping behind McLaren and into fifth place in the world constructors’ championship, the French manufacturer has freshened up its technical and driver formation with Ocon joining alongside Daniel Ricciardo, while Guanyu Zhou has been promoted to a test driver role following Jack Aitken’s exit from the team fold.
Renault has also hired Pat Fry from McLaren as its new Chassis Technical Director.
The French manufacturer did not reveal its full car or livery at its 2020 season launch, but did tease an all-black look in render images.
Renault will be aiming to return to the top of the competitive midfield battle and close the performance gap to the top three teams – Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull – while also getting an early start on its 2021 preparations for the regulations overhaul.
Last season Renault demonstrated glimpses of its improvements but struggled to find consistency with its R.S.19.
Star signing Daniel Ricciardo produced the team’s standout result of fourth place at the Italian Grand Prix as he claimed ninth place in the final F1 world drivers’ championship.
Nico Hulkenberg has been replaced by Ocon, who joins having served as Mercedes back-up last year, with the driver duo taking part at Renault’s 2020 opener in Paris alongside team principal Cyril Abiteboul, the engineers chiefs and special advisor and four-time F1 world champion Alain Prost.
"Taking back fourth position in the Constructors’ Championship remains the objective over a season that will be more hotly-contested than ever," Abiteboul said.
“For the coming season, we must respect the three priorities identified during the off-season: reliability from the get-go; ensure a high level of development very early in the season and have a good conversion rate on track. However, we also need to regain confidence and reinforce team spirit to get the best from everyone, and to maximise our chances each race weekend during this unprecedented long and challenging season.
“2020 is also a pivotal year that marks the end of one cycle and the preparatory phase of another. This year must see us setting the best possible course for the major regulation changes of 2021. The organisational changes made in the second half of 2019 are with this firmly in mind.”
Renault has become the fifth team to reveal part of its 2020 line-up following Haas and Mercedes livery reveals and full car and livery presentations from Ferrari and Red Bull.
Renault’s RS20 will make its public debut on the first day of pre-season testing at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on February 19.
