Grapevine: Renault to launch furniture collection

The collection, which will be launched next Friday ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, was born from an idea from property developer and F1 enthusiast David Ambrose.

"There was nothing on the market that reflected the brilliant engineering, and beauty, of Formula One cars. That's what we wanted to create," explained Ambrose.

Ambrose, with friend and former F1 marketing specialist Rod Vickery, formed Racing Blue and then approached the team with a license programme.

The collection includes objects such as transmission gears which have metamorphosed into candlesticks, exhaust pipes which have become a lamp, and a wishbone suspension which is now a silver and titanium-rimmed vase.

"Form follows function in the world of Formula One, but the objects that make up our racing car are beautifully-crafted objects in their own right," said Renault's team operations director John Mardle.

"The Renault F1 Team Collection has met every expectation we had in terms of producing unique, high-quality products that capture the values of Formula One.

"They highlight the skill and craftsmanship involved in winning at the highest level."

Every item in the launch range is from the world championship-winning R25 car. New items from the R25 and R26 will be introduced throughout the year.