Dudot to Retire at the End of March

The move comes with the full agreement of team president Patrick Faure and managing director Flavio Briatore, the team said.

Renault said Rob White and Andre Laine will now work as joint deputy managing directors in Viry-Chatillon. White, the team's engine technical director, will retain responsibility for all technical programmes while Laine will assume responsibility for Support Operations.

"I would like to thank Bernard for his contribution to the team: he re-joined Renault F1 at a critical time in our programme, and has played a key role in our successes during the past two seasons," said Faure. "I wish him well in his retirement, which I am confident will be extremely active."

Dudot was Renault's technical director from 1980 to 1997. He was the man behind the V10 engines the French engine manufacturer supplied to the Williams and Benetton teams to win six constructors world titles between 1992 and 1997.

"Our teams strength lies in its personnel, and I am confident that Rob and Andre will continue to enable our team at Viry to achieve its potential," said Briatore.

"The excellent collaboration between our technical groups in France and England has been reflected in the performance of this year's car and engine, and will prove critical in the coming seasons as we strive to achieve our ambitious objectives.