Returning Renault launches F1 program

The returning French manufacturer Renault officially launched its Grand Prix racing team in France after the Lotus F1 team was taken over, prior to which it was the Renault factory team that competed in F1 from 2002 to 2010. The team's car has been christened the Renault R.S.16 chassis, developed and manufactured in Enstone, UK while the Renault R.E.16 power unit will continue to be developed in Viry-Châtillon, France.

Twenty-five-year-old Jolyon Palmer has been confirmed as one of the team's race drivers while Pastor Maldonado's association with Enstone ends as the controversial Venezuelan will be replaced by Denmark's Kevin Magnussen. The 23-year-old made his F1 debut in 2014 with McLaren and scored a podium in his debut race before posting 11 more points scoring finishes in the remaining 18 races. Magnussen was forced to play the role of a reserve driver, however, when Fernando Alonso returned to McLaren last year.

Nineteen-year-old Esteban Ocon - the reigning GP3 Series champion - will be the team's test and reserve driver. The French prodigy won the FIA European Formula 3 Championship in his first and only season of participation in 2014.

Bob Bell has been appointed the team's chief technical officer, a position he held when Renault last won the drivers' and constructors' championships in 2005 and 2006. Bell will manage the efforts of Nick Chester as chassis technical director and Rémi Taffin as engine technical director.

The 2016 F1 season is set to kick off with the Australian Grand Prix weekend from March 18 to 20 in Melbourne. Prior to that there are set to be eight days of pre-season testing from February 22 to 25 and March 1 to 4 at the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain.