Επίσημο: Renault R.S.18

Με στόχο να είναι η ταχύτερη ομάδα από το δεύτερο group δυναμικότητας, η Renault τράβηξε το σεντόνι της R.S.18. Η γαλλική ομάδα ολοκλήρωσε την περσινή σεζόν στην έκτη θέση της βαθμολογίας και ευελπιστεί η R.S.18 να είναι ένα πιο ανταγωνιστικό μονοθέσιο από τον προκάτοχό της, προκειμένου να κατακτήσει πολύ περισσότερους από τους 57 περσινούς βαθμούς.

Ας δούμε τι αλλαγές υπάρχουν συγκριτικά με την R.S.17 των τελευταίων περσινών αγώνων. Ξεκινώντας από το ρύγχος,

Το S-Duct εξακολουθεί να βρίσκεται στη θέση του, με την εμπρός ανάρτηση να είναι γεωμετρίας push-rod, την ώρα που τα wishbones έχουν κερδίσει λίγο ύψος σε σχέση με πέρυσι. Τα brake ducts έχουν ελαφρώς πιο τετράγωνο αντί για ορθογώνιο σχηματισμό, ενώ τα αεροδυναμικά βοηθήματα κάτω από το ρύγχος είναι λίγο αλλαγμένα.

Δεν βλέπουμε ιδιαίτερες αλλαγές όσον αφορά τα barge boards. Τα βασικά στοιχεία πίσω από τον εμπρός άξονα είναι σχεδόν ίδια με τα περσινά, ωστόσο ελαφρώς αλλαγμένα είναι τα κάθετα πτερύγια δίπλα από τα sidepods, αφού έχουν πλέον μία διάτρηση στο επάνω μέρος όσο ο αριθμός των κάτω διατρήσεων εξακολουθεί να είναι τρία.

Το στοιχείο που ενώνει το κάθετο πτερύγιο με τα sidepods παραμένει ίδιο, όμως απουσιάζει ένα μικρό στοιχείο μέσα από αυτό μαζί με το οριζόντιο πτερύγιο που βρισκόταν πίσω από τους καθρέφτες, οι οποίοι έχουν πλέον πολύ μεγαλύτερα στηρίγματα. Όσον αφορά τα sidepods, είναι ελαφρώς μικρότερα, με το σκάψιμο κάτω από τις εισαγωγές να είναι πιο έντονο, χάρη και στον νέο σχηματισμών των εισαγωγών, που πλέον είναι πιο οριζόντιες και λιγότερο τριγωνικές.

Το Halo είναι βαμμένο σε μαύρο χρώμα, προκειμένου να κρύβεται καλύτερα, ενώ νέα είναι η εισαγωγή πάνω από το κεφάλι του οδηγού, καθώς φέτος έχει πιο τραπεζοειδές σχήμα, με δύο οπές ακριβώς από κάτω της. Το κάλυμμα του κινητήρα δεν έχει πλέον το Shark Fin, αλλά οι σχεδιαστές του Enstone έχουν εκμεταλλευτεί κάθε επιτρεπόμενο χιλιοστό για να το τραβήξουν πόσο πιο κοντά στην πίσω πτέρυγα.

Η πίσω ανάρτηση είναι ασφαλώς pull-rod, με το πάτωμα να μην παρουσιάζει διατρήσεις μπροστά από τους πίσω τροχούς, τουλάχιστον για την ώρα. Το T-Wing δεν υπάρχει πια, ενώ η πίσω αεροτομή δείχνει ίδια με πέρυσι, αν εξαιρέσουμε την απουσία του gurney flap. Το carbon εκτείνεται πέρα από τα προειδοποιητικά led του πίσω μέρους, ενώ παρατηρούμε ότι έχει μία διάτρηση από κάθε πλευρά. Αν κι έχουμε εικόνα του πίσω μέρους, η γαλλική ομάδα θέλησε να κρύψει τον διαχύτη.

Όπως πρόσεξες από την αρχή, η R.S.18 έχει πολύ περισσότερο μαύρο χρώμα από την R.S.17. Στην ουσία, το κίτρινο χρώμα καταλαμβάνει την μικρότερη επιφάνεια του μονοθεσίου, αφού βρίσκεται στις εισαγωγές των sidepods, στο επάνω μέρος του ρύγχους, αλλά και σε κύρια στοιχεία της εμπρός και πίσω πτέρυγας, κάτι που αναμένεται να αρέσει περισσότερο στους οπαδούς.

Οι οδηγοί της Renault θα είναι οι Nico Hulkenberg και Carlos Sainz, οι οποίοι θα προσπαθήσουν να κατακτήσουν μαζί τριψήφιο αριθμό βαθμών και γιατί όχι να πάρουν και την πέμπτη θέση στην τελική βαθμολογία.

It is a great source of pride for Groupe Renault and its employees to see the Renault name once again working its way to the sharp end of Formula 1. Motor racing is an intrinsic part of the Renault DNA and from Formula E races in cities to rallying through to Formula 1, we have always achieved outstanding results.

Renault Sport Formula One Team’s ambition is clearly to uphold the outstanding record of the past and the 2017 season has confirmed we are on the right track. We are a team on the rise. We have two very talented drivers who are hungry for results. Enstone is regenerated and the workforce has already increased by more than 35%. At Viry, our long-term commitment in several motorsport categories allows to develop a detailed plan for our facilities.

Our investment has so far been successfully translated to the track as we rose from ninth to sixth in the Constructors’ Championship in 2017 and ended the year with the fourth fastest car.

The success of the programme in just two years is testament to the resilient plan laid down early in the creation of the team and the strong job done by Cyril and the entire Renault Sport Racing teams. I am convinced year three will take us one step closer to the long-term aim: winning races and challenging for championships.

We are equally satisfied with the results we are seeing off-track. Formula 1’s new owners, have developed various marketing initiatives that have enabled the sport to grow into an even bigger brand and engage more closely with fans; steps forward which are incredibly important for us as the only mass market car constructor in the sport.

Naturally one innovation we are delighted to see is the return of the French Grand Prix. Absent from the calendar for ten years, we have really felt its loss as a French manufacturer. But its comeback will give yet another opportunity for us to meet our fans and push the Renault brand.

Our clients are also feeling the benefits of our accrued technical experience, with innovations crossing over from track to road at a rapid and increasing rate. There is constant dialogue between the teams at Renault and Renault Sport Formula One Team to improve the road-going experience of Renault Sport users. This will only grow as our participation in Formula 1 lengthens.

The improved draw of the sport and our increasingly visible position within it, has created a strong marketing platform for both Groupe Renault and our valued partners. We are proud to be joined by partners such as BP Castrol, Infiniti, MAPFRE and RCI Bank, but also Microsoft, EURODATACAR, Estrella Galicia, Bell & Ross and many others.

We look forward to another successful year, both on and off-track.

Jérôme Stoll, President of Renault Sport Racing

Q&A WITH CYRIL ABITEBOULRenault Sport Racing Managing Director

Managing Director Cyril Abiteboul ensures all aspects of Renault Sport Racing are structured, resourced and working to their optimum to deliver on their performance potential. He also sets the commercial, marketing and communication targets to ensure Groupe Renault takes full advantage of its Formula 1 activities.

Since he re-joined Renault in July 2014 to become Managing Director of Renault Sport F1 and successfully spear-headed the analysis of reacquiring and restarting a team for the Renault brand to continue its long F1 tradition.

Since then, Renault Sport Formula One Team has grown to be the most dynamic team on the F1 grid, with high ambitions.

How would you evaluate the 2017 season for Renault Sport Formula One Team?Last year was successful in many ways. It was the second year in our rebuilding and a further step towards our long-term plans and aims. 2016 was all about recruiting, investing, bringing in new sponsors, new talents and building our brand.

Over the past year I’ve seen progression in many areas: ninth to sixth in the standings – in many races we were often the fourth fastest team on the grid. This is a testament to our drive, commitment and adherence to a very ambitious plan.

It was a quantified progression towards what we want to become and challenging the top teams.

We saw a lot of development away from the track too. What were the key updates?We have two facilities with distinct purposes and histories. In Enstone, it’s about modernising and going forward. Amongst several projects, we have acquired new machine tools, the composite department has moved forward a great deal, a paint shop area was created, CFD facilities came on line and we have built new working environments to accommodate our burgeoning workforce. We have recruited over 100 people in the past year, with some very respected names joining the ranks. More will join us over the coming months.

The stability of Viry gives us a platform on which we can build and go forward. We have a streamlined team with effective practices and management that allow us to produce power units that are capable of challenging for wins. The best endorsement for the quality of the engine is that Red Bull Racing and McLaren have chosen Renault.

I am also pleased to see that the two sides are working better and better together. The best example came in Abu Dhabi at the last race of the season; we knew we had a hard task to finish in sixth, but Viry and Enstone functioned as one, mobilised exceptionally well, and got the job done.

How do you rate the driver line-up for 2018?We have everything to be positive about this year. We have two very talented and ambitious drivers.

Last year Nico gave us exactly what we needed with his experience, knowledge and ability to lead both on and off track. Carlos joined us at the end of the season and we thought long and hard about it. A driver change mid-season is difficult from a human side as well as a technical side, but I think it came at the right time and it was well executed. He brought something fresh at the end of the year, and he scored points to help us in the Constructors’ battle. Without that we wouldn’t have finished where we finished.

They have become incredible team members who have built up strong relationships within Renault Sport Formula One Team. Their feedback has been invaluable in honing the Renault R.S.18 and their skill shines every time they exit the garage. They are as committed as we are to getting every last tenth out of the car.

What influenced the appointment of Jack Aitken as Third and Reserve Driver?Jack has been nurtured in the Renault Sport Academy so we’ve seen his development over the past couple of years. It is clear he’s a talented young driver and he is ready for this opportunity. He has a full season ahead of him with racing in Formula 2 and fulfilling his Formula 1 commitments. He has the perfect environment to reach his targets and we are keen on seeing him in action.

You have a burgeoning sponsor portfolio as well. Is this a sign of the growing strength of Renault Sport Formula One Team?Last year we had some big names joining us and we’re pleased to say that what they have experienced with us last season has convinced them to make long term commitments to our team and strengthen their involvement. BP Castrol, Infiniti, RCI Bank, MAPFRE, Microsoft, Estrella Galicia, EURODATACAR and Bell & Ross are all valued partners supporting us in this journey, and we are glad to see them all staying on with us; it shows the merit and credibility of our project and the ambitions we have. We are also glad to welcome new partners such as Tmall and le coq sportif to bring innovative marketing experience to our team. We hope to reward our partners well. There’s a lot of promise for the years ahead.

The Renault Sport power unit will be seen in action with two other teams: McLaren and Red Bull Racing. How important is engine supply to Renault?Our strategy in Formula 1 is very clear. We are in Formula 1 as a full works team. The marketing value is associated to the works team and that’s clear.

However, power unit technology is at the heart of what we do and what we offer. Renault has an amazing track record of supplying engines to the best teams and best drivers, securing many successful results with Formula 1 teams, from Williams to Red Bull. It’s natural to continue that history and stay true to that legacy.

It’s an honour to supply to teams as big as Red Bull and McLaren and is a recognition of the quality of our product and work that they have chosen Renault. Of course, they are very strong competitors and that’s an extra challenge and motivation. They will clearly be our benchmarks for performance this season.

What’s the plan, the target, the desire for 2018?Our headline target is to show continued progression through results. We want to be able to showcase our progression in every regard; power unit, chassis, operations, drivers. Everything must improve and we must continue to grow. We want to demonstrate this in many different ways, from the teams we will be directly racing against, to the gap to the leaders, including also our fan base and the respect that our team will inspire in our way we behave on and off track.

How important is the return of the French Grand Prix?The French Grand Prix is the cherry on the cake of our programme. We are a global brand with a strong French heritage. We are registered as a French entrant to the championship. If one day we win, it will be the French national anthem we hear. We are not quite there yet, but the French Grand Prix will be an amazing moment for us. For the French Grand Prix, Renault is a partner and we’re working hard with the organisers and Formula 1 to create more opportunities for engagement with the fans. That connection with the fans will be strong and give extra energy to the team.

We also have other special races over the course of the season: Silverstone is just down the road from Enstone, then there are Carlos’ and Nico’s home races too. No matter what the sentiment at any race, the goal is always the same: maximum performance.

Q&A WITH BOB BELLRenault Sport Formula One Team Chief Technical Officer

Over the course of his career, Bob has worked in a technical or managerial role that has helped secure nine Constructors’ Championships and 10 Drivers’ Championships.

He graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with an Honours Degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1979, completing a PhD in Aeronautical Engineering in 1982.

From 1982-1988 Bob worked with McLaren International, with positions including Head of Aerodynamics, Head of Research and Development and Project Director Unlimited Land Speed Record Attempt.

His first spell at Enstone was throughout 1998-1999 as Benetton Formula Senior Aerodynamicist, before moving to Jordan Grand Prix for 1999-2001 as Head of Vehicle Technology.

In 2001 Bob returned to Enstone as Deputy Technical Director then Technical Director (2003-2009), He stepped up to be Acting Team Principal (2009) and Managing Director (2010) before joining Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd as Technical Director from 2011 to 2014.

Bob joined Renault Sport Racing in 2016 as Chief Technical Officer, overseeing the outputs of both the Viry and Enstone sites to provide a strategic approach to their endeavours.

What are the challenges for Renault Sport Formula One Team in 2018?Our greatest challenge is improving performance with the target of building on our Championship finishing position. In 2017 we set the aggressive target of fifth. Ultimately, we finished in sixth position, which was still a strong result. Our strength and development in the second part of the year showcased just how much we progressed.

For 2018 we need to continue our upward trajectory. Whilst we’re aware that the closer we get to our goal, the tougher the competition will be.

What needs to be done to achieve this goal?We need a strong reliability record. That’s something we need to focus on, and we have worked hard on it over the winter. We need the car as reliable as we can make it. That’s a huge challenge, even more so than performance development, and it’s the toughest task we face.

To improve reliability, we have to accept nothing less than perfection. Anything that ends up on the car needs to be designed and built to the highest standard; checked and rechecked as fit for purpose. All the issues which blighted us last year need to be eradicated by a fresh approach. It’s not something however that you can flick on like a switch, you need well established processes in place.

How much progression has been seen at Enstone over the past two years?It’s a very different place with many new facilities still in build. Working methodologies have moved on a lot, but we have retained the core Enstone spirit; that desire to be successful, not giving up and never accepting second best. Physically there have been large changes to the facilities, new staff and new functionalities within the buildings. That’s been added on top of a very good race team spirit and approach.

What are the resources of note heading into 2018?There are many areas where we have increased capability. We have a new state of the art CFD supercomputer and our wind tunnel received a sizable update last year. The new gearbox dyno will be online before the start of the season. These three elements give us enormous capability. The entire organisation is growing; there are more people to increase the rate of development. Enstone has moved on a long, long way since the Renault acquisition and is perfectly following a trajectory that stretches out for several years.Over the past two seasons, how has the Enstone / Viry relationship evolved?It’s steadily getting stronger and stronger. We have been together a long time and it’s a well-established relationship. It’s still developing and more and more work is being done in harmony across the sites. It isn’t just about installing the engine in the car, but basic techniques in terms of engineering, methodologies and managing the supply chain between both sites. Most importantly, we work a lot closer with Viry in terms of looking ahead and agreeing together what is important for future cars.

What are the targets for testing?Laps and mileage. We want a trouble-free winter test programme so we can validate the performance of the car and move forward. To do this we need a reliable car and that’s one of the key goals for the Renault R.S.18.

Talking Heads: Nick Chester and Remi TaffinRenault Sport Formula One Team Technical Directors Nick Chester (Chassis) and Rémi Taffin (Engine) give their insights into the Renault R.S.18.

Nick graduated from Cambridge in 1991 to join Simtek Research in vehicle simulation, moving to their Formula 1 entry in 1994. He joined Arrows Grand Prix in 1995, first for vehicle simulation then suspension design before becoming Performance Engineer for Damon Hill and Pedro Diniz (’97) then Race Engineer for Mika Salo and Pedro de la Rosa (’98-’99).

In 2000 his Enstone career began, joining Benetton as Test Engineer to Alexander Wurz, Giancarlo Fisichella and Mark Webber. He later became Performance Engineer for Fisichella (’01) then Jarno Trulli (’02-’04); helping the Italian to his first and only Grand Prix victory in Monaco in 2004.

From 2005 Nick took on the position of Head of Vehicle Performance Group (VPG), governing suspension, brakes and simulation. VPG played a key role bringing both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ World Championships back to Enstone in the 2005 / 2006 seasons and introducing the ‘tuned mass damper’ system that would prove a major innovation of the period.

In 2010 he became Head of Performance Systems, overseeing the VPG as well as Control Systems and Dyno operations. Additionally he oversaw the planning and introduction of Enstone’s driver in the loop simulator. From 2011 Nick was Engineering Director, responsible for planning and delivery of the race winning E20 and E21. 2013 saw Nick step up to Technical Director and responsibility for design direction and development of E21, E22, E23, Renault R.S.16, R.S.17 and now R.S.18.

Rémi takes overall responsibility for the Renault power unit developed at the Viry-Châtillon site. Working closely with Nick, Rémi ensures the team of engineers produce an optimised unit that works in perfect harmony with the chassis.

1999 saw Rémi join Renault Sport, working across Renault’s roll call of clients, including British American Racing, Arrows, Benetton and Renault F1 Team. He has worked directly with two World Champions, Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso, engineering the latter to victory in his two title-winning years.

Rémi stepped up to manage track activities with the creation of Renault Sport F1 in 2011, taking responsibility for the on-track engine performance of Renault Sport F1’s partners. Attending all races and tests throughout the season, Rémi oversaw customer support for the Renault-powered teams and was instrumental in the four world titles secured by Red Bull Racing in the V8 era.

In 2015 he became Director of Operations, managing the teams of engineers and technicians in the dynos and assembly department at Viry and ensuring a smooth transition to track by overseeing the engineers integrated to Renault’s partner teams.

What were the key learnings from 2017?

Nick: 2017 was the first year of the new, wider cars with their wider tyres. This led to a very different aero package including wider front wings and wider floors, all of which meant more downforce. With these new packages, there was a lot learnt as the season progressed. Likewise, the R.S.17 was the first car developed between Enstone and Viry from the outset and we had a reasonably quick car – the fourth fastest on the grid by the end of the season. We did, however, experience growing pains in terms of reliability and there were elements on the chassis side we could have done better. 2017 was nevertheless a positive step in competitiveness with some useful lessons learnt.

Rémi: 2017 was about making the car quick and, in particular, helping the car be the fourth quickest on the grid. From an engine perspective what we went through was a little bit of pain in not finishing all of the races, but we were also capable of producing a good level of performance which helped us have the fourth quickest car, so it was that perennial balance between performance and reliability.

We did see our power unit on the top step of the podium three times last year, so it’s clear we have the potential to achieve our aspirations. We just need to raise our game across the board, and all the elements we need to do this are there. We could also have had a very good points scoring level had we finished all of the races. That’s our target for 2018: to put the car in a position of finishing all races with regular, strong points hauls.

What we worked on through 2016 was to get Enstone and Viry working together again, it was clear we needed to do that. 2017 showed we were capable of putting it all together and that we can work as a team. We make good decisions and we go through all the good and bad moments together and that’s a very clear and respected process.

Where can we see the changes in 2018?

Nick: For 2018, on the chassis side, the rules are reasonably similar to 2017. The main change is halo coming in and the engine cover fin being removed. In concept, the R.S.18 is a development of the philosophy of the R.S.17 with everything we learnt last year added to it. We learnt a lot last year in terms of the aero package so there should be a lot more scope with this car.

Rémi: We finished 2017 with a strong set-up with the engine and the chassis so the main area for us is to capitalise on the latest specification of the power unit and all the progress we have made in terms of reliability. We have gone through an extensive and productive dyno programme with the R.E.18 with the target of trouble-free testing and races. We want to develop performance and also balance reliability, which in turn enables the team to develop the understanding of the car.

What are the key areas of evolution for the team in 2018?

Nick: On the chassis side, there are substantial differences in the suspension, which should give us better ride over bumps and a little bit more predictability for the drivers. There’s a lot of aero development, not only for downforce but to have a more accessible performance envelope, meaning we have a car which is easier to put on the limit and allows the drivers to extract maximum performance.

Rémi: It’s a clear statement that we want to deliver much more performance through the season and we’ve made that provision. There’s a clear link in between what we will keep developing with the engine and what we can do with the chassis.

What are the main changes in the power unit realm for 2018?

Rémi: The main change in terms of regulations is that there are fewer power units available for the drivers over the season; just three each now. In fact, it’s actually more challenging than that, as we are limited to three ICE, but only two MGU-K and two energy stores!

Our first priority is for reliability and it’s going to be even more difficult as we have to get another quarter out of the engine life on top of the target for 2017. Of course, we knew the three engine rule was going to come, so it’s something we scaled in for 2017 in preparation for 2018. We started designing the 2018 engine in 2016 with the three engine limitation in mind and we have completed more hours on the dyno than ever before.

How significant are the facility changes and upgrades?

Nick: There’s been a lot of improvement at Enstone. We have upgraded machinery, computers and infrastructure. Entire departments have moved into new locations and the Enstone you see at the start of 2018 is very different from the Enstone of two years ago. With better facilities and new equipment comes improved working practices and ultimately better output. Even things like a new canteen make a difference. Enstone has a good vibe, the new recruits have integrated really well and the open team spirit persists.

Rémi: It’s great to see the new facilities at Enstone. Anyone from Viry going to Enstone is impressed and is happy to see Renault taking it seriously. All the spending is for the same, collective aim: to win. It’s a clear sign and shows us that Enstone and Viry as a team are sharing the same resources and making good decisions. Here at Viry too we have some stuff in the pipeline.

Viry has a long-term plan and we will start to see more significant changes too. In the first instance Viry has been more about details and specific upgrades. That said, Viry is made of three parts that are respectively twenty, thirty and forty years old and we need to ensure a productive and pleasant work place for our staff. We are going through a process of upgrades and a new building will come into use in 2019 to ensure our facilities are at the Formula 1 latest standards. We want to enter a new era and make sure we are in line with the expected level. Formula 1 as a sport will continue to evolve and we have to match this.

RENAULT R.S.18 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

Chassis Moulded carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb composite monocoque, manufactured by Renault Sport Formula One Team and designed for maximum strength with minimum weight. Renault Sport power unit installed as a fully-stressed member.

Front Suspension Carbon fibre top and bottom wishbones operate an inboard rocker via a pushrod system. This is connected to torsion bar and damper units which are mounted inside the front of the monocoque. Aluminium uprights and OZ machined magnesium wheels.

Rear Suspension Carbon fibre top and bottom wishbones with pull rod operated torsion bars and transverse-mounted damper units mounted inside the gearbox casing. Aluminium uprights and OZ machined magnesium wheels.

Transmission Eight-speed semi-automatic carbon maincase gearbox with reverse gear. “Quickshift” system in operation to maximise speed of gearshifts.

Fuel System Kevlar-reinforced rubber fuel cell by ATL.

Electrical MES-Microsoft Standard Electronic Control Unit.

Braking System Carbon discs and pads. Calipers by Brembo S.p.A. Master cylinders by AP Racing.

Cockpit Removable driver’s seat made of anatomically formed carbon composite, with six-point harness seat belt. Steering wheel integrates gear change paddles, clutch paddles, and rear wing adjuster.

Dimensions and WeightFront Track: 1600mmRear Track: 1550mmOverall Length: 5480mmOverall Height: 950mmOverall Width: 2000mmOverall Weight: 733kg, with driver, cameras and ballast

R.E.18 technical specification

EngineDisplacement 1.6L V6Number of cylinders 6Rev limit 15,000rpmPressure charging Single turbocharger, unlimited boost pressure (typical 5 bar abs)Fuel flow limit 100kg/hPermitted fuel quantity per race 105kgConfiguration 90° V6Bore 80mmStroke 53mmCrank height 90mmNumber of valves 4 per cylinder, 24Fuel Direct fuel injectionEnergy Recovery SystemsMGU-K rpm Max 50,000rpmMGU-K power Max 120kWEnergy recovered by MGU-K Max 2 MJ/lapEnergy released by MGU-K Max 4 MJ/lapMGU-H rpm >100,000rpmEnergy recovered by MGU-H UnlimitedGeneralWeight Min 145kgNumber of Power Units permitted per driver in 2018 3 ICE/Turbo/MGUH and 2 MGUK/ES/CU

Total horsepower More than 950hp

OUR DRIVERS

NICO HÜLKENBERGRace Driver #27

Nico Hülkenberg joined Renault Sport Formula One Team with an impressive racing career ahead of his eye-opening Formula 1 debut in 2010. Championship titles were secured in Formula BMW, A1GP and the GP2 Series. Nico also achieved a pole position in his rookie F1 season and won at Le Mans on his debut with Porsche in 2015.

Key Details

Date of Birth: 19 August 1987Place of Birth: Emmerich am Rhein, GermanyNationality: GermanWebsite: www.nicohulkenberg.netTwitter: www.twitter.com/HulkHulkenbergFacebook: www.facebook.com/NicoHulkenberg.officialInstagram: www.instagram.com/hulkhulkenberg

StatsGrands Prix Started: 135Pole Positions: 1Podiums: 0Wins: 0Points: 405Average Points: 3 (as of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2017)Fastest Laps: 2

Career laps raced: 6,989Career KM raced: 35,473Best Finish: 4th – Belgium 2012, 2016; Korea 2013Best Qualifying: 1st – Brazil 2010

2017 laps raced: 9732017 KM raced: 5,021Best Finish: 6th – Spain, Great Britain, Belgium, Abu DhabiBest Qualifying: 6th – Great Britain

Milestones1st Race: 2010, Bahrain Grand Prix (Grid 13th, Race 14th)25th Race: 2012, Monaco Grand Prix (Grid 10th, Race 8th)50th Race: 2013, Italian Grand Prix (Grid 3rd, Race 5th)75th Race: 2014, Brazilian Grand Prix (Grid 12th, Race 8th)100th Race: 2016, Monaco Grand Prix (Grid 5th, Race 6th)125th Race: 2017, Great Britain Grand Prix (Grid 5th, Race 6th)

Q&A

How are you looking forward to the season ahead?It seems like a very long time since I sat in a car and raced and that is very much what I want to be doing. Certainly, when I have visited Enstone and seen everything going on with the development of the Renault R.S.18 I’m very enthused about the season ahead. Add that to the news from Viry about the development of the power unit and everything looks and sounds good; it’s all positive and there are exciting times ahead.

How well primed is The Hulk?I’m ready to rumble. I’m feeling positive and optimistic in myself. We’re in a good position.

What could be possible in the season ahead?We know what we want to achieve, but it’s a competitive sport and we know there are other teams out there with the same aspirations. We won’t know how good a job we’ve done with our car as everyone else has also been working hard on their car over the winter. This is what makes testing so interesting, and it’s when we’re on track that we’ll see how much progress has been made in the off-season.

How will your second season with the team be different from your first?You want every season you contest to be better than the one before. 2017 was my first with the team, and there’s an element of learning different processes and personnel, but ultimately the goals are the same. For this year we want to build on the good position we built last season. 2017 was about bedding in, now I want to get ready to go. I get a good feeling, we have put a lot of work in over the winter and hard work usually pays off. I’m eager to get out there. Put me in the car.

How different is the team relative to where it was a year ago?It’s bigger and there are more buildings in Enstone. The team is growing and it’s a rewarding experience to be part of this growth. The factory facilities are being improved and modernised. Everything is heading in a healthy direction and at healthy speed.

On track what differences do you expect to see?Hopefully we’ll be battling for positions a bit further up the order. The cars will look quite similar apart from smaller shark fins and the addition of the halo. I like the look of the R.S.18 and I know everyone at Enstone and Viry has been dedicated to improving all areas of the package.

When we race, we’ll have new tyres and I’m looking forward to some softer allocations for Grands Prix. This should mean more opportunities for multi-stop races, which should make things more interesting.

How do you rate the Renault Sport Formula One Team driver line-up?It’s strong. There’s a young, hungry and good driver who’s on the other side of the garage and he’ll keep me on my toes! Hopefully I can show him a few tricks too.

Key Dates

2017Nico was announced as a Renault Sport Formula One Team driver for 2017 in October 2016 and made his race debut for the team at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

2014-2016Nico returned to Force India for a three-year spell, and after the first three races of the 2014 season he sat in third position in the Drivers’ Championship, behind the Mercedes juggernaut of Hamilton and Rosberg. He finished fifth four times that year, ending the season ninth in the standings. 2015 saw Nico finish tenth in the Drivers’ Championship. Outside of F1, Nico made his World Endurance Championship debut, driving for Porsche. Pairing Nick Tandy and Earl Bamber, Nico finished sixth in the Spa 6 Hours then the trio took victory at Le Mans in what was Nico’s debut at the iconic race. In Nico’s final season at Force India, he finished ninth in the F1 Drivers’ Championship, assisting Force India to take fourth in the Constructors’ Championship.

2013For 2013 Nico joined Sauber, impressing with third on the grid at the Italian Grand Prix for the Ferrari-powered C32, taking fifth in the same race. His best finish of the season was fourth in the Korean Grand Prix and he ranked tenth in the standings that year.

2011-2012With Williams opting for Pastor Maldonado at the squad, Nico moved to Force India in a reserve position for 2011, driving in Friday practice sessions. He was promoted to a race seat the following year, qualifying for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix six places ahead of team-mate Paul di Resta. In that year’s Belgian Grand Prix he finished a career-best fourth. Nico looked set for glory in the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix, however a safety car period robbed him of a 45-second lead in the race so he was eventually to finish in fifth. He closed the 2012 season in eleventh.

20102010 saw Nico’s Formula 1 debut with Williams, racing alongside the highly experienced Rubens Barrichello. In his third race, the Malaysian Grand Prix, he out-qualified Rubens and he scored his first Formula 1 point in the same race. After finishing a season-best of sixth in the Hungarian Grand Prix, Nico secured pole position on a difficult damp Interlagos track, with two of his qualifying laps on slick tyres fast enough for his P1 position. His fastest qualifying lap was over a second ahead of next quickest, Sebastian Vettel. Nico ended the year 14th in the standings.

Pre-Formula 1After a successful karting career, Nico’s car racing started in German Formula BMW where he dominated the 2005 season, following in the footsteps of countryman Sebastian Vettel as champion. 2006 saw a graduation to German Formula Three and a race win, but it was the second season of the A1GP series, which started late in 2006 – contested in identical Lola chassis with more than 500 horsepower from their Zytek V8 engines – when people really took notice of the rising star. Driving for A1 Team Germany, Nico claimed nine wins from the season’s 22 races, including six in a row. His emphatic performance secured Germany the crown and cemented Nico’s position as the most successful driver in A1GP history.

Two seasons in the F3 Euro Series from 2007 onwards followed, with third in the standings and four wins in his first outing, and the championship title and seven wins in the second. In 2009, Nico became one of only three drivers to win the GP2 Series in their first season, following in the footsteps of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. He secured his crown with five wins and five other podium finishes.

CARLOS SAINZRace Driver #55

Carlos Sainz joined Renault Sport Formula One Team in October 2017, ahead of the United States Grand Prix, for the remainder of the season in preparation for his first full year with the team in 2018. Carlos is no stranger to Renault having won two driver titles – Formula Renault 2.0 NEC in 2011 and Formula Renault 3.5 in 2014 – during his junior years.

He arrived in Enstone as a sought-after talent with a taste for success. He started his Formula 1 career in 2015 at Scuderia Toro Rosso.

Key Details

Date of Birth: 1 September 1994Place of Birth: Madrid, SpainNationality: SpanishWebsite: www.carlossainz.esTwitter: www.twitter.com/carlossainz55Facebook: www.facebook.com/carlosainzInstagram: www.instagram/carlosainz

StatsGrands Prix Started: 60Pole Positions: 0Podiums: 0Wins: 0Points: 118Average Points: 1.96 (as of Abu Dhabi 2017)Fastest Laps: 0

Career Laps Raced: 2,993Career KM Raced: 14,969Best Finish: 4th, Singapore 2017Best Qualifying: 5th, Spain 2015

2017 Laps Raced: 881 (216 with Renault Sport Formula One Team)2017 KM Raced: 4,425 (1,036 with Renault Sport Formula One Team)Best Finish: 4th, SingaporeBest Qualifying: 6th, Monaco

Milestones1st Race: 2015, Australian Grand Prix (Grid 7th, Race 9th)25th Race: 2016, Monaco Grand Prix (Grid 6th, Race 8th)50th Race: 2017 Great Britain Grand Prix (Grid 13th, Race DNF)

Q&A

What’s your overall approach to the season ahead?The general approach is to work harder every day to continue on a positive trend. For sure the main target is to take a step forward, both me as a driver and the whole team. It’s difficult to predict how big that step will be, however, I’m confident as I have been pushing hard during the winter and I know everyone at the factory are giving their very best. I´m convinced this is going to be an exciting season.

How much do you feel part of the team?Renault is like a big family and I feel very comfortable around everyone in the team. I came to Enstone for the first time in October and since returning in January it looks like a whole new place. There are new people, new machines, new buildings and construction going on. It’s getting really big and you can see people are really pushing to get the team back to the top. Everyone at the factory buys into that, which is the only way to become number one again. As a driver, to see all this is really motivating!

You joined the team late in the 2017 season; how much more is there to come from you?It was a positive four races with the team last season. Between Nico and myself, we helped the team get that sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship. I think it was worth it and has helped me to prepare better for the upcoming season. Now I go to testing knowing my engineers and mechanics better, gathering more knowledge on the car and being able to adjust more things to my preferences. This way I can focus on finding a strong base line to start the championship on the right foot.

What have you done in the off-season?In December I enjoyed some rest, spent lots of time with my family and friends and planned the training camps for 2018 with my team. Since 2nd January onwards I returned to a strict training schedule and a corresponding diet to meet the demands of that. Motivation has been at the highest levels since the year started and that really helps during a thorough preparation. I also had the chance to have a go at a stage of the Monte Carlo Rally, in a New Mégane R.S. which was a real bonus!

In visual terms, the biggest change for 2018 will be the halo; what are your thoughts on it?I think it can be an effective device. As drivers, we will have to adapt to it, 20 laps or so in testing should be enough time. The engineers will see how it affects aerodynamics. I have seen the work done in the wind tunnel back in the factory but now we need to test its behaviour on track. Visually, I don’t think the halo looks too bad once it has been integrated in the car. We will all get used to it and it will be normal fairly quickly.

The pre-season is on home ground in Spain; how are you looking forward to testing?I´m really looking forward to it. If everything goes to plan, eight days in testing means a lot of laps. There is a lot to learn and many different set-ups to try, which is always challenging and exciting for both drivers and engineers. Nico and I follow similar directions, I see positives from that too.

What are your initial thoughts on the Renault R.S.18?The design looks really promising. You can tell the guys have been pushing hard and doing their homework on it! There’s a lot of detail and that’s very encouraging to see. I can´t wait to jump into it and start sharing feedback with the team.

Key Dates

2017Carlos was announced as a Renault Sport Formula One Team driver for 2018 in September 2017 prior to the Singapore Grand Prix, where he took a career-best result of fourth. Before that, Carlos enjoyed eight points-scoring finishes with a notable drive to sixth in Monaco. On his Renault debut, Carlos impressed and claimed what proved to be a highly valuable seventh place in Austin, ultimately putting the team in a positive position to secure sixth place in the Constructors’ standings.

20162016 was a bright year for the upcoming Spaniard, showing consistent results throughout the calendar. Five points-scoring finishes from the opening seven races put him in a good position to show-off his talent. He finished the season on 46 points with impressive drives to sixth in Spain, USA and Brazil.

2015 – Formula 1Carlos made his Formula 1 debut in the 2015 Australian Grand Prix where he took two points courtesy of a ninth-place finish. He would go on to pick up 18 points during his rookie season with a season highlight of seventh in the USA Grand Prix.

2014 – Formula Renault 3.5 SeriesCarlos switched back to Renault power in 2014 in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, taking seven victories on his way to the title.

2013 – GP3Carlos raced for Arden in the GP3 Series, finishing tenth.

2012 – Formula 32012 saw Carlos turn his hand to a number of championships, including the British Formula 3 Championship, Formula 3 Euro Series and the European Formula 3 Championship. He finished sixth in Britain despite five wins, ninth in the Euro Series and fifth in the European Formula with a win and five podiums.

2011 – Formula RenaultCarlos turned to Renault-powered machinery for the first time as he entered the Formula Renault Eurocup series for Koiranen Motorsport. Carlos impressed by finishing second and best Junior in front of Daniil Kvyat with two wins, six second places and two third places. Also that season, he competed in the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup (NEC) taking the title with ten wins to his name – beating Kvyat and Stoffel Vandoorne to top spot.

2010 – Formula BMWCarlos’s single-seater career began in 2010 in the Formula BMW Europe Series. He topped the rookie standings with 227 points, finishing fourth in the overall leaderboard with one win and a further four podiums to his name. Carlos also raced in the Formula BMW Pacific Championship as a wildcard, where he scored three wins and another two podiums.

JACK AITKENThird and Reserve Driver

Jack Aitken will step up his role with Renault Sport Formula One Team by becoming the team’s Third and Reserve Driver. Jack, a Renault Sport Academy member since its inception in 2016, graduates to the position after two excellent seasons in GP3 where he finished runner-up last year. The British-Korean will contest the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2018 with ART Grand Prix alongside his duties as Third and Reserve Driver, which will require him to attend all Grands Prix.

Key Details

Date of Birth: 23 September 1995Place of Birth: London, EnglandNationality: British-KoreanWebsite: www.jackaitken.com/Twitter: www.twitter.com/JaitkenRacerFacebook: www.facebook.com/jackaitkenracing/Instagram: www.instagram.com/jaitkenracer/

Q&A

How does it feel to become the team’s Third and Reserve Driver?It feels amazing to take up the role as Third and Reserve Driver. It hasn’t quite processed yet, but I’m going to step up my involvement with the team quite a lot. Over the first Barcelona test it will start to feel real and sink in a little bit more.

How has your time with the Renault Sport Academy prepared you for the role?I’ve spent a lot of time with the team at Enstone, which has been really beneficial. In the earlier years the focus was more on myself and what I had to do with my racing. Now I’m steadily increasing my involvement with the team through conducting simulator work and attending races and tests. I feel a lot more at home here than I did three years ago, it feels natural now, and it’s great to know the people around the factory.

What are your main duties as Third and Reserve Driver?My main duty will be to watch and learn. The role gives me an opportunity to be closer to Nico and Carlos and learn from them, as well as observing the race team, the engineers and how everything operates. Of course, if I’m required, I’d be happy to jump in the car, but I hope it’s all fine with Nico and Carlos! At the moment, it will be about continuing my development. I will attend all the races, barring any date clashes with Formula 2.

Are you excited to work closely with Nico and Carlos?I’ll be sitting at the debrief table with open ears. It’s vital to understand and get to know how the team is working across a race weekend. If Nico and Carlos have anything to pass on, I’ll gladly receive it. It’s more watching what they do and learning how they handle different situations.

Do you feel the skills learned with the Formula 1 team will aid your Formula 2 campaign this season?It can be a double-edged sword, but not many drivers have been in a Formula 1 reserve role and raced in Formula 2 at the same time. It can be an extra load, so I have to learn to manage that and strike the balance. It’s going to make me a better driver, I think, so I hope to transfer that to Formula 2. There’s been a fair amount of talk about racing against George [Russell] and Lando [Norris] who are in similar roles, so there’s a good crop of British talent coming through. The new Formula 2 car will make things interesting, it’s a new challenge, which is very exciting.

What are your main objectives for 2018?I want to be up at the front in Formula 2 and there is no reason why I can’t be up there fighting for wins and podiums. The competition will be hard – that’s normal at this level of racing – but we are confident we can be quickest and fight for wins.

Are you excited to get your chance in the Renault R.S.18?I’m not sure when I will jump into the R.S.18, but I’ll relish the opportunity when the time comes. It’s one thing to drive a Formula 1 car and another thing to drive a current Formula 1 car, so that will be exciting. I haven’t driven a hybrid car yet, let alone one with the new regulations from 2017, so I’m really looking forward to it. I’ll test the R.S.16 in the summer, I’ll never say no to driving a Formula 1 car, it’s a date I’ll be pencilling in as soon as possible!

Key Dates

2018Third and Reserve Driver for Renault Sport Formula One Team as well as competing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship with ART Grand Prix.

2017Jack remained in GP3 for 2017 and switched to French outfit ART Grand Prix. He blitzed to a dominant pole position at the season-opener in Barcelona, but technical issues hampered Jack in the races. He brushed that aside by claiming back-to-back second places at the following rounds in Austria and Great Britain. In Hungary he took 31 points from a race – the first GP3 driver of the year to do so – when he won from pole and stormed to the fastest lap around the Hungaroring.

Jack added more podiums to his tally at Spa and Monza to remain in the title hunt, but he ultimately fell short of winning the championship at the penultimate round in Jerez before ending the season in Abu Dhabi with a frustrating outing. He tested Formula 1 machinery for the first time in September, getting behind the wheel of a Renault-powered E20 Formula 1 car at Jerez.

2016In 2016, Jack began his maiden season with the Renault Sport Academy driving for Arden International in the GP3 support series. Despite a difficult start to the year, adapting to the bigger cars and new tyres, Jack finished the season in fifth place and was the driver to beat in the second half of the season. In fact, from the final nine races, Jack failed to finish on the podium just twice, taking his first GP3 win at Spa-Francorchamps.

2015Jack’s breakthrough season came in 2015 as he scooped a hat-trick of championship titles. He first clinched the Pro Mazda Winterfest crown in the USA during the late winter months before storming to the Formula Renault Alps title courtesy of four wins. He capped off a memorable season by claiming the highly-competitive Formula Renault Eurocup championship with eight podiums, five of which were victories, earning him a spot with the Renault Sport Academy.

2012-2014Jack’s single-seater career began in 2012 in the Dunlop Intersteps Championship with Fortec Motorsport, where he finished third in the championship. His first taste of Renault came a year later when he claimed runner-up spot in the Formula Renault NEC series. 2014 saw Jack move up to compete in the Formula Renault Eurocup, where he bagged one victory – at Hungary – on his way to seventh in the championship.

ARTEM MARKELOVTest and Development Driver

Artem Markelov joins Renault Sport Formula One Team as the team’s Test and Development Driver. Artem, runner-up in the 2017 FIA Formula 2 Championship with Russian Time, will get his first taste of Formula 1 involvement with Renault following four years of racing in GP2 and Formula 2. In 2018, alongside his Test Driver duties, Artem will race in Formula 2 for a fifth season with Russian Time. The 23-year-old Muscovite will attend Grands Prix with the team and is planned to appear in the team’s R.S.16 and R.S.18 over the course of the year.

Key DetailsDate of Birth: 10 September 1994Place of Birth: Moscow, RussiaNationality: RussianWebsite: http://amarkelov.com/en/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artem_markelov_official/

Q&A

How does it feel to join Renault Sport Formula One Team?I’m very happy to join such a brilliant team in Renault Sport and it’s a huge honour to be announced as Test and Development Driver. My priority will be to work on the simulator and to help development of the Renault R.S.18 as best I can. I’m confident I will show good results on track for the team and I hope they will be satisfied with my work. Formula 1 is the goal, and while I’m not there yet, there are more steps to take and this is a real significant one. Renault is a really strong team, that’s has helped many drivers get into Formula 1.

What is your 2018 programme as Test Driver?We are still in the process of finalising my 2018 programme, but it will be a season full of watching and learning and when the time comes to drive the Formula 1 car, I’ll be prepared. I will also help the team at the factory with simulator work to accelerate development of the Renault R.S.18. I will have to understand the car quickly and adapt as best I can to help both myself and the team. It’s so important to keep learning, and everyday I’ll try to learn something new and improve.

How have you been preparing over the winter for a busy year of racing?I’ve had a busy winter making sure I’m ready to meet the demands. I’ve done a lot of biking, swimming and running and I’ve been putting the hours in across these last few months to be as best prepared as possible. 2018 will be a tough calendar for me as I’ll be balancing Test Driver duties with the team alongside a full racing season with Russian Time in the FIA Formula 2 Championship. I think there will be a lot of flying time and the need for some time management. I will do my best with it all, and I am very motivated.

What are your goals in the FIA Formula 2 Championship this season?I want to be fighting for the championship and going one better than runner-up spot last season. The new engine, halo and chassis design will bring a new challenge for 2018 but I’m ready for it. It’s going to be a tough season and I want to score lots of points at each round, win races and the title. I think Formula 2 will be very competitive this season as there are a lot of young, talented drivers in the field. I have over 80 races under my belt in the class so I’m aiming to use that experience to be better than the competition. It’s important to limit mistakes at this level, the fewer mistakes you make the more you’ll be at the top and it’s vital to be at the top of your game.

Key Dates

2018Test and Development Driver for Renault Sport Formula One Team, alongside racing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship with Russian Time.

2017Artem secured his best season in single-seaters in 2017, claiming second place in the FIA Formula 2 Championship with Russian Time who were crowned Team Champions courtesy of a healthy 210-point contribution from the 23-year-old. Artem won five races last season, including at the season opener in Bahrain, the Sprint race in Austria, the Feature in Spa and back-to-back victories at the final two rounds in Jerez and Abu Dhabi.

2016In 2016, Artem finished his third year in the GP2 Series in 9th place taking two podiums along the way, including his first GP2 win, which came in a dramatic Monaco Feature race. From 15th on the grid, Artem played the patient game, benefitting from several safety cars, before pipping Norman Nato by 1.5s at the flag. A number of fourth and fifth places kept Artem well in the top ten of the championship, and he capped the year off with a third place at the final round in Abu Dhabi.

2015Artem recorded his first GP2 podium in 2015 on the way to finishing 13th in the Drivers’ standings. He took third place in the Feature race in Spa, round seven, after starting from 22nd. Fifth place finishes in the Belgium Sprint race and Monza Feature solidified the Russian’s spot in his second year of running in GP2.

20142014 saw Artem make the step up from German Formula 3 to GP2 with Russian Time. He endured a tough season, acclimatising to the bigger, faster cars whilst racing in a series which ran on 11 Grand Prix circuits. His best result came in the Hungary Sprint race where he finished seventh.

2011-2013Artem finished fourth in the 2011 ADAC Formel Masters with Motopark, taking one win from 23 races. 2012 saw him move to German Formula 3 with Lotus finishing 7th in his rookie year, claiming two victories in the process. A year later he finished runner-up in the same series, recording 339 points courtesy of an excellent run of results which saw him take 21 podiums from 26 races including two wins.

Renault Sport Academy

Launched in 2016 by Renault Sport Racing and Renault Sport Formula One Team, the Renault Sport Academy is tasked with discovering and nurturing young driver talent through the racing ranks, where, ultimately, Renault Sport Formula One Team aims to find drivers able to deliver the team world championship titles.

Drivers are selected on ability and potential, with the Academy able to draw upon Renault Sport Racing’s vast experience in motorsport as well as its global markets to find such talent. Mia Sharizman manages the programme and has a range of experience in motorsport including at Formula 1, Formula 2 and GP3 level.

For 2018, the Academy has retained four drivers from its 2017 intake. Jack Aitken, a member since its inception in 2016, signs for a third year, as does Sun Yue Yang. Max Fewtrell and Christian Lundgaard both impressed in their first seasons with the Academy and both remain for a second year.

The Academy is delighted to welcome three new drivers to the programme. As part of his prize for winning the highly-competitive Formula Renault Eurocup, Sacha Fenestraz has accepted a place with the Academy. Arthur Rougier, winner of the 2017 French Formula 4 Championship, is on-board for 2018, alongside Victor Martins, runner-up to Arthur in his rookie season of single-seater racing.

Four members will go wheel to wheel in the Formula Renault Eurocup in 2018 with Max, Christian, Arthur and Victor all set to contest the exciting series that races on nine Grand Prix circuits, including the streets of Monaco.

Jack, runner-up in the GP3 Series last season, will make the step up to Formula 2 this year, whilst Sacha will line-up in the European Formula 3 Championship. Sunny will continue his junior formula development in the British Formula 3 series.

The Academy was specifically created to help develop young driver talent within the environment of Renault Sport Racing. All seven members will be able to utilise the state of the art facilities at the Formula 1 team’s base in Enstone to aid their progression up the motorsport ladder. Members will be educated across all elements that are required to make it to the top of Formula 1 including physical and mental training, media and marketing support, basic engineering and being taught the core values and proud history of Renault in motorsport.

Renault has a positive track record of discovering and developing future Formula 1 talent. Robert Kubica, Lucas di Grassi, Pastor Maldonado, Heikki Kovalainen, Jérôme d’Ambrosio and Romain Grosjean are amongst some of the names to make a mark at the pinnacle of motorsport.

Cyril Abiteboul, Managing Director of Renault Sport Racing:The Renault Sport Academy is a unique resource for Renault Sport Formula One Team as it allows us to find exciting racing drivers and develop them through the Renault Sport Racing pathway. We are looking forward to tracking the progress of Jack, Max, Christian, Sunny, Sacha, Arthur and Victor and we will be keeping contact close when they visit Enstone for their training.

All seven drivers will reap the rewards of being part of a Formula 1 team. Sessions on the simulator, as well as private Formula 1 test programmes will be critical for some of their progress and enables our engineers to understand their capabilities and plot a development plan. Attending Formula 1 test sessions and debriefs will allow the young drivers to be fully immersed in life as a racing driver and prepare them for the demands of a Grand Prix weekend.

We look forward to working hard with all seven drivers of the 2018 Academy and seeing them flourish in their respective championships.

Q&A Mia Sharizman, Director, Renault Sport Academy

What are the main objectives of the Renault Sport Academy?The plan has always been to prepare the drivers to take on a Formula 1 seat in the future and win the team world championships. In order to achieve that, drivers have to show their talent and ability and be above the competition across junior racing categories. The immediate targets of the Academy are for drivers to fight for titles in their respective series.

What are your thoughts on the 2018 line-up?The line-up this year shows how far we have come in a short space of time. We have made good progress and we have a strong structure in place to utilise the talent in the programme. It’s important to have a strong base of drivers at the lower levels of racing so there’s a system in place to select the best drivers to progress to higher levels of racing. We have four drivers competing in Formula Renault this season, which is positive to see and we know we have some of the best talent out there.

Has the approach changed for 2018?The approach for this year is continuing on from last year, which focuses on a lot of off-track preparations such as simulations and physical and mental training. We want to enhance the transition between one season to the next and this year we will have a strong focus with on-track programmes, especially towards the end of the year when drivers begin to switch focus to changing championships. It’s always good to prepare drivers as much as possible during the winter, not only for this year but for next season too.

What’s in store for the 2018 members?We have a number of training camps planned which serve an array of purposes. We are excited to announce our collaboration with Aspire in Doha, Qatar, where our drivers trained in January. We will also have a mid-season training camp in August as well as various programmes with our various partners such as Formula Medicine and Base Performance Simulators. We want the seven members to work together and build on team work, instil communication skills and discipline and build loyalty to Renault Sport Racing.

RENAULT SPORT ACADEMY DRIVERS

JACK AITKEN

Twitter: @JaitkenRacerInstagram: jaitkenracer

Age: 22Nationality: British/Korean2017 season: Runner-up in the GP3 series with ART Grand Prix2017 Wins: 12017 Podiums: 6

2018: FIA Formula 2 Championship, ART Grand Prix, Renault Sport Formula One Team Third and Reserve Driver

Previous Championships:2017: 2nd GP3 Series2016: 5th GP3 Series2015: 1st Formula Renault 2.0 Alps, 1st Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0, 1st Pro Mazda Winterfest2014: 7th Eurocup Formula Renault 2.02013: 2nd Formula Renault 2.0 NEC2012: 3rd Dunlop InterSteps Championship

Jack is into his third year with the Renault Spo