 Renault team chief Eric Boullier will be hoping they make the right kind of headlines in 2010
Team Lotus 2010 Season StatsLast updated: Thursday, 15 November 2012 12:32 UKBBC PUNDIT EDDIE JORDAN'S 2010 REVIEW "Renault were not sure they would continue over the winter but the private equity from Luxembourg businessman Gerard Lopez's Genii Capital company has given them stability and resulted in consistent performances on the track. "Robert Kubica has re-signed for 2011 and that is key to the team while Vitaly Petrov's future with the team remains unclear. "Renault have a potential world champion in Kubica; he is hardcore, pure talent and a full-on professional." "The team tailed off a little bit in the latter half of the season, maybe because they are concentrating on next year's car. "If they have the car ready, Renault have a real chance of winning a race next year." MEET THE BOSS - ERIC BOULLIER Can you explain your team's philosophy in three words? Integrity, passion, determination. What is special about Renault? I was born in the early 1970s and, as far back as I remember, the Renault name has been linked to motor racing. For all the F1 fans in France and around the world, this name is something special. Also, I started my career as an engine engineer and in this era the team was a true legend. They pioneered turbocharged engines in F1, then retained the V10 architecture as the best possible in the 1990s. Now, Renault F1 have won championships and many races. They know what it takes to be a winning team. All team members are very dedicated and give their best every day. As Renault F1 is entering a new era, the whole team is ready for a new challenge. I'm proud to be part of it. What is the most difficult thing about being a team boss? Nothing is too challenging or difficult if you are surrounded by a great team! More seriously, the most difficult task is maybe to give everybody the time they deserve. The human side of the job is very important. I think it's the key to success. What kind of team boss are you - hairdryer treatment or arm around the shoulder? Arm around shoulder, tough when needed, but always fair.  | RENAULT FACTS AND STATS
Nationality: French Headquarters: Enstone (UK) and Paris (France) Debut season: 1977 Test/reserve drivers: Ho-Pin Tung/Jerome d'Ambrosio/Jan Charouz Team principal: Eric Boullier Managing director: Bob Bell Technical director: James Allison Engine: Renault V8 2009 position: 8th Constructors' titles: 2 |
What is F1's biggest challenge? The main challenge is to keep and nurture the fans, and continually improve the show. Without them we are nothing. For 2010, we have a fantastic grid, new teams and rules to improve the show, so we look forward to the start of the season. There's also a fantastic challenge for F1 in the years to come - the technologies we'll use in the near future absolutely need to take the environment parameter into account. The FIA are working hard on it, and I give them all my support. Does F1 need road-car manufacturers? Definitely. Road-car manufacturers have been involved in the sport throughout its history; Renault have been in the sport for over 30 years and our 2010 car's striking black-and-yellow colours demonstrate Renault's commitment to F1. The sport just wouldn't be the same without manufacturers. Road-car manufacturers are what connects fans with the sport in their everyday life. Will having more teams on the grid make F1 more competitive? I don't know if it will make F1 more competitive, but Grands Prix should be more entertaining! The number of cars on the grid will certainly be impressive, and some newcomers could create a nice surprise. Will non-refuelling change F1 for the better or worse? For the teams it is a new technical challenge, and it might make racing a bit more interesting and even sometimes nail-biting as we might see some cars run out of fuel before the end of the race. Also, tyre management will be even more important than before. And there will be an interesting question to be answered: what will be the quickest pitstop in 2010? It should be around three seconds, I bet! The best piece of advice you've ever given a driver is... Bring back the car on three wheels if you need to, but I want to start from pole! The best piece of advice I have ever received is... Always be fair to people you work with. Those you deal with on your way to the top, you may find again if you're falling down one day. What was you first paid job? Engine engineer. What time do you set your alarm clock for? 6.30am.
|
Bookmark with:
What are these?