Red Bull and Renault begin major Formula 1 revamp programme

On the back of a disappointing 2014 campaign, where the French car manufacturer has struggled against the might of Mercedes, a totally fresh approach to its F1 operation has been agreed with Red Bull.

Renault will give Red Bull its full works focus, while the Milton Keynes-based team has agreed to devote staff and resources at its own base to help bolster areas of technology where Renault needs to improve.

Renault Sport F1's new managing director Cyril Abiteboul, who was drafted in two months ago after leaving Caterham, says a new way of thinking was needed for 2015.

"We have to be much more pragmatic because we are changing the way we are conducting operations and, in truth, we made our life extremely difficult," he told AUTOSPORT.

"Our starting point was not great. We were not integrated and not in the right part of the world to operate all of that.

"So if in addition to those difficulties we add up the complexity of leading not one project but four projects for each of our four customers, we end up in the situation we have ended up in.

"We will have a works team. We'll have to work and integrate properly with the works team, and the rest will have to follow. I'm sorry but that's the facts of life.

"We are trying to do it in the way that is doable for teams like Toro Rosso and Caterham but our focus and target is to go back to a winning championship position with Red Bull Racing. Full stop."

RED BULL CREATES NEW DIVISION

Red Bull has already begun recruiting engine staff to help lead a new division that will offer support to Renault's own engineers at Viry-Chatillon.

Team principal Christian Horner believed that Red Bull could offer expertise in areas that would boost Renault's performance.

"We are looking to bolster areas that we have strength and Renault have weaknesses in," he told AUTOSPORT.

"We are looking to the areas of strength that we have: whether it be simulation, or modelling. It'll be working hand-in-hand with Renault rather than independently of Renault."

This week's AUTOSPORT magazine features an extended analysis of Renault and Red Bull's recovery plan, including interviews with key players on both sides about what went wrong, and what will be changing