Symonds Pays Tribute to Renault Staff
Renault's director of engineering Pat Symonds has paid tribute the the French squad's factory members
Renault have enjoyed a memorable season, taking both the drivers' and the constructors' titles only five years after making their return as a full team.
The French manufacturer took over from the Benetton team prior to racing under its own name in 2000.
Symonds, who was working for Benetton when the team took both titles in 1995, admits things have changed a lot since then.
"We are all a lot older," Symonds joked. "I think the real difference is the scale. At the end of 1995, when we won the Championship, we had 227 people. The engine was, appropriately, supplied to us by Renault Sport, along with support staff to run it at the races, but it essentially arrived in a box.
"Fast forward to 2005, and we have just crossed the threshold of 500 people in Enstone, and there are another 250 at Viry. In 1995, we had a dominant season, but 2005 has been much harder, and those 800 people are what has allowed us to push the development all the way.
"In the final three races, we had suspension modifications, chassis improvements, a big aero upgrade and the engine in China. It was a complete effort at every level, and every one of those 800 people has played their part.
"What hasn't changed is the sheer satisfaction of winning. This is the title that represents the whole team effort. In 10, 20 or 30 years' time, the satisfaction of winning will still be there."
Be part of the Autosport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
What could have been: When Villeneuve’s shock return thwarted an F1 rookie
Friday favourite: Renault's original F1 title-winner that began the Alonso era
Why Renault's survivor wasn't part of Alpine's plans
Peugeot surprised by severity of WEC Balance of Performance hit
Audi a player, not a spectator, in F1 driver market - Sauber
Mercedes joins Williams and RB with 'quick and cheap' F1 cockpit airflow upgrades
Alpine gets F1 spare car for first time in 2024 as lighter chassis appears in China
Why F1 2026 worst case fears could be key to new rules success
How the F1 driver market situation sits for each team with 2025 openings
What's been going wrong for Leclerc in F1's tiny margins qualifying game
What the Chinese GP's highlights reveal about its first F1 race for five years
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments