Team history and statistics: Renault

Here we take a look at Renault’s F1 history through its records.

Races Started: 383

Jean-Pierre Jabouille, Renault RS01

Photo by: Motorsport Images

Renault has started 383 grands prix (which is only 10 more than Sauber), putting it seventh in the all-time list of teams/constructors. The current record holder of that is Ferrari with 991 race starts.

The French car manufacturer's first grand prix start was with a single car driven by Jean-Pierre Jabouille at the 1977 British Grand Prix. The turbo-powered RS01 wasn’t very competitive on its debut though, as Jabouille qualified 21st and retired in the race with a turbo problem on lap 16 when he was running in 22nd position.

Wins: 35

Fernando Alonso, Renault R28 leads Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber F1.08

Photo by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images

Since that first start in 1977, Renault has won 35 grands prix. That puts it in seventh place in the all-time list of race winners. Current rival Red Bull is in sixth with 62 race wins. Ferrari is again the top team in wins with 238.

Renault’s last race win came at the 2008 Japanese Grand Prix when Alonso started from fourth on the grid. The race lead changed 10 times that day and we had six different leaders, but on lap 53 Alonso took the lead from teammate Nelson Piquet Jr. in his Renault R28 and went on to triumph.

Podium places: 100

The Renault team including Jean Sage, Renault Team Chief, celebrate Jean Pierre Jabouille's first win and their first Grand Prix victory

Photo by: Sutton Images

A century is a nice round number for Renault’s total of podium places in F1. In last year’s Italian Grand Prix, Daniel Ricciardo wasn’t that far away from scoring its 101st when he finished fourth, which was Renault’s highlight of 2019.

With a tally of 100, it is ranked ninth on the all-time podium scorers, only two less than Benetton’s 102 – with the history of the two teams unified by Enstone.

Renault’s first podium came in 1979 at its home race in the French Grand Prix when it was held at Dijon. Jean-Pierre Jabouille had qualified his Renault RS10 on pole position but at the start he lost the lead to the Ferrari of Gilles Villeneuve. On lap 46 Jabouille took the lead over from Villeneuve to win his and Renault’s first grand prix. This race is perhaps best remembered though for the battle for second place between Villeneuve and Rene Arnoux, who was in the second Renault. At the chequered flag Arnoux finished 0.24s behind Villeneuve.

Pole positions: 51

Fernando Alonso, Renault F1 Team R29 leads Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing RB5

Photo by: Andrew Ferraro / Motorsport Images

Since 1977, Renault has scored 51 pole positions in F1. That’s good enough for seventh place in the current all-time list, and is just 11 less than Red Bull.

Renault’s last pole position was at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, with Fernando Alonso in the R29. But the race was a different story. Alonso made a good start, leading 11 laps, but a bad first stop and a problem with the fuel pump caused a retirement when he was running in 15th place.

Fastest laps: 31

Gilles Villeneuve, Ferrari 312T4, René Arnoux, Renault RS10

Photo by: Ercole Colombo

With 31 fastest laps. Renault is ranked ninth in the all-time record, which means the outfit is in the top 10 of all the main achievements.

The first time a Renault driver set the fastest lap in a race was when it won that 1979 French Grand Prix. But the fastest lap was for Arnoux rather than race winner Jabouille.

Hat tricks: 11

Fernando Alonso, Renault F1 Team R26

Photo by: Sutton Images

A perfect score for a team in F1 can be viewed as a double (a victory and second place), but there is also the hat-trick achievement of win, pole and fastest lap. Renault has scored 11 hat tricks up until now. The last time was at the 2006 British Grand Prix with Alonso at the wheel.

Photo ID: 1017361608 – Fernando Alonso scored Renault’s 11th Hat trick at Silverstone in 2006.

Renault F1 statistics:

Sources:

FORIX.com

Motorsportstats.com