Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

How a record 10th WRC title bid was reignited after Ogier vs Neuville epic

Feature
WRC
Rally Greece
How a record 10th WRC title bid was reignited after Ogier vs Neuville epic

How Lindblad has shown that he's found his feet in F1

Feature
Formula 1
British GP
How Lindblad has shown that he's found his feet in F1

Why Verstappen burst out laughing during British GP simulator runs

Formula 1
Austrian GP
Why Verstappen burst out laughing during British GP simulator runs

Marquez held 'informal talks' with Honda before committing to Ducati

MotoGP
Marquez held 'informal talks' with Honda before committing to Ducati

How Russell resorted to "abnormal" driving style to win F1 Austrian GP

Formula 1
Austrian GP
How Russell resorted to "abnormal" driving style to win F1 Austrian GP

Five things we learned from MotoGP’s action-packed Dutch GP

Feature
MotoGP
Dutch GP
Five things we learned from MotoGP’s action-packed Dutch GP

Austrian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2026

Formula 1
Austrian GP
Austrian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2026

Mercedes boss questions Ferrari's "limitless" F1 upgrades amid budget cap era

Formula 1
Austrian GP
Mercedes boss questions Ferrari's "limitless" F1 upgrades amid budget cap era

Renault ready to win again - Lopez

Renault team co-owner Gerard Lopez believes the squad has rediscovered its "winning mentality" after recent tough seasons

He says the rebuilding process required after its turbulent winter has been completed and it is now ready to fight at the top again.

After its 2005 and 2006 title successes, Renault endured several lean years, with its brief late-2008 flurry soured by the subsequent revelation that its Singapore win was the product of the now infamous 'race fixing' scandal.

But the team has made encouraging progress this season, and though it has yet to win again, Lopez said Renault's self-belief had returned and it was now finding results like Monza - where it only scored three points for Robert Kubica's eighth place - painful rather than adequate.

"There is a winning mentality back in the team," Lopez told Reuters. "For sure we would like to fight for the championship next year and it takes more than just words to do that.

"It takes a culture and so on, and I think we are back into that culture where a weekend like this is really disappointing, not just for me but disappointing for the whole team."

Lopez said the majority of changes he had wanted to make at Renault were now complete.

"Just by changing some key management positions, I think we've kind of reignited the will to win and essentially showed the team and the people that were there that they can do it, just like they did it a couple of years ago," he said.

"I think the foundations are rock solid. We are pretty much done with our programme in terms of putting in some key management people, here and at the factory.

"As far as we are concerned, for the first time now we can actually focus on delivering results rather than just rebuilding stuff. So I think it's as solid as it has probably ever been."

He also dismissed suggestions that his Genii Capital firm could be looking for a way out of its Renault investment, or that the car manufacturer itself was angling to reclaim a greater share in the team.

"As far as we are concerned, I don't know why we would sell," Lopez said. "Financially we are very solid. It might have pleased other people if we weren't but tough luck for them."

Previous article Buemi: F-duct key to beating Sauber
Next article Lotus sure of maintaining position

Top Comments

Latest news