Breaking news
Formula 1
Renault justifies decision behind "no car" launch
Renault says it decided against a proper new car launch for its 2020 Formula 1 car because it wanted to avoided presenting something "fake".
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Feb 12, 2020, 7:53 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The French car manufacturer held a season launch in Paris on Wednesday with management and drivers, and offered only some sneak peak renderings of its new RS20 challenger at the end.
While the lack of a real car prompted some to suggest that the team could be late with its new car build, Renault F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul insisted the team was well on schedule – and was in better shape than 12 months ago.
"If anything we are much more on schedule than we were last year," he said. "You may remember that last year we invited you guys to come to Enstone and actually I mentioned how late we were. And that was a fact.
"And probably it was also something that impacted reliability at the start because, when you are late, you are reacting and it is all about trying to catch a trains that's gone anyway. So this year we are ahead of schedule."
Read Also:
- Renault explains "different approach" behind RS20 design
- Renault offers first glimpses of 2020 F1 car
- Why Renault will need more than "glimpses" in 2020
Elaborating on why there was no 2020 car reveal, Abiteboul said he had grown tired of the media commentating on theoretical renderings or dummy parts that are often used at launches as though they are the real thing.
"After last year, I read what you wrote, and I read what people say about what you write about the pictures that we post, and I got extremely frustrated from people, you know, really reacting to the cars as they they are the [real] thing.
"But actually, no one is capable of presenting a [true] car. If your team in on schedule, you don't have a car waiting here for a couple of hours or days. Your car is built and going straight to Barcelona. That is an optimised schedule.
"So on that basis, our only option was to have a fake car, a show car altered to look like this year's car. But that is a waste of money and the results will be frankly below optimal.
"[Plus] people will always interpret based on that. So rather than that, no car. For anyone interested in the car, look at the pictures next week."
Renault is due to reveal its car on the first morning of pre-season testing at Barcelona in Spain next week.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Renault explains "different approach" behind RS20 design
Next article Hamilton reveals new helmet colours ahead of Mercedes F1 launch
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
Renault F1 Team
“I went back to the car and cried” – Esteban Ocon opens up about his unexpected year on F1 sidelines
Formula 1
Formula 1
“I went back to the car and cried” – Esteban Ocon opens up about his unexpected year on F1 sidelines
You Ask The Questions: Robert Kubica
Formula 1
You Ask The Questions: Robert Kubica
On this day: Michael Schumacher’s final unsportsmanlike manoeuvre
Formula 1
Formula 1
Monaco GP
On this day: Michael Schumacher’s final unsportsmanlike manoeuvre
Latest news
Niels Koolen makes switch to Abel Motorsports ahead of 2027 Indy NXT campaign
Indy NXT
IndL Indy NXT 1 h
Niels Koolen makes switch to Abel Motorsports ahead of 2027 Indy NXT campaign
GT World Challenge Portimao: All you need to know about season finale featuring Max Verstappen
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
WCEE GT World Challenge Europe Endurance 1 h
GT World Challenge Portimao: All you need to know about season finale featuring Max Verstappen
13 Autosport retains unchanged lineup for 2027 IMSA campaign, eyes global expansion
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 2 h
13 Autosport retains unchanged lineup for 2027 IMSA campaign, eyes global expansion
Bourdais, Moss headline second batch of Sebring's 75 all-time greatest drivers
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 2 h
Bourdais, Moss headline second batch of Sebring's 75 all-time greatest drivers
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.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.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe