Renault R.S.16

The Renault R.S.16 (originally known as Lotus E24 Hybrid) was a Formula One racing car designed by the Renault Sport Formula One Team to compete in the 2016 Formula One season,^[2] and marked Renault's return to the sport as a constructor after a five-year absence. The Renault R.S.16 was also the first Renault-badged turbocharged car to compete in the sport since Renault RE60 in 1985.

Renault R.S.16

The Renault R.S.16, driven by Jolyon Palmer, during the Malaysian Grand Prix
Category	Formula One
Constructor	Renault
Designer(s)	Bob Bell (Chief Technical Officer) Nick Chester (Chassis Technical Director) Chris Cooney (Engineering Director) Martin Tolliday (Chief Designer) Simon Virrill (Project Leader) Nicolas Hennel (Head of Aerodynamics) Jon Tomlinson (Chief Aerodynamicist)
Predecessor	Lotus E23 Hybrid - Lotus Engineering Renault R31 - Renault branded
Successor	Renault R.S.17
Technical specifications
Chassis	Moulded carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb composite monocoque survival cell
Suspension (front)	Carbon fibre top and bottom wishbones operate an inboard rocker via a pushrod system. This is connected to a torsion bar and Multimatic damper units which are mounted inside the front of the monocoque + aluminum uprights
Suspension (rear)	Carbon fibre top and bottom wishbones with pull rod operated torsion springs and transverse-mounted damper units mounted inside the gearbox casing + aluminum uprights
Length	5,088 mm (200 in)
Width	1,800 mm (71 in)
Height	950 mm (37 in)
Wheelbase	Over 3,100 mm (122 in)
Engine	Mecachrome-built and assembled Renault R.E.16 1.6 L (98 cu in) single-turbocharged V6 engine (90°), limited to 15,000 RPM in a mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive layout
Electric motor	Infiniti kinetic and thermal energy recovery systems
Transmission	In-house Renault 8-speed + 1 reverse titanium gearbox sequential seamless semi-automatic paddle shift. “Quickshift” system in operation to maximize speed of gearshifts with limited-slip differential
Weight	702 kg (1,548 lb) including driver
Fuel	Total Excellium 102 RON 94.25% + 5.75% biofuel
Lubricants	Total Quartz 9000 and Elf HTX 840[1]
Brakes	Carbon discs with steel calipers
Tyres	Pirelli P Zero dry slick and Pirelli Cinturato treaded intermediate and wet tyres OZ Racing 12 in × 13 in (305 mm × 330 mm) (front) and 13.7 in × 13 in (348 mm × 330 mm) (rear) aluminum racing wheels
Clutch	AP Racing electro-hydraulically operated, carbon multi-plate
Competition history
Notable entrants	Renault Sport F1 Team
Notable drivers	20. Kevin Magnussen 30. Jolyon Palmer
Debut	2016 Australian Grand Prix
Last event	2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Races Wins Podiums Poles F/Laps 21 0 0 0 0

Kevin Magnussen and Jolyon Palmer were the race team drivers, whilst Esteban Ocon was the reserve driver.^[3]

Development

Technical team

The chassis was designed by Nick Chester, Chris Cooney, Martin Tolliday and Nicolas Hennel with Bob Bell overseeing the design and production of the car as chief technical officer and Rémi Taffin leading the powertrain design. The car was built in Enstone in Oxfordshire with the engine supplied from Viry-Châtillon in France.^[4]

Vehicle development

In testing, the R.S. 16 used a black livery that was replaced for the season

Nick Chester admitted that preparations for 2016 were limited by financial difficulty within the Lotus team. They also had a contract to use Mercedes engines for the new season, which meant a significant amount of the car that had been designed needed to be modified to fit the Renault power unit. Ahead of the first round of the season, the team admitted that the R.S 16 was a developmental and foundational year, using aero similar to the 2015 car and the engine a lightly modified version of the same years model. Many of the early modifications seen in testing were made due to FIA mandated requirements, such as the higher cockpit sides.^[4]

The team tested the car in a black livery during testing.^[5] At the Barcelona test, the team completed 343 laps or 992 miles. Days one and two were limited with just 79 laps across the two days, however Magnussen managed 260 laps alone in the new car.^[6] By the second test, the team completed a total of 776 laps, with Palmer suffering mechanical errors during his test days.^[7]

Upon the start of the season, the FIA confirmed Renault had only used 7 of the available 32 tokens for engine development, leaving scope to progress.^[8] An upgrade did materialise for the engines at Monaco, where Magnussen took the B-spec unit, and another went to Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull Racing with the unit branded TAG.^[9]

By July, the team abandoned development of the R.S. 16 instead turning focus to the 2017 car.^[10]

Season summary

Kevin Magnussen leads teammate Jolyon Palmer during the Chinese Grand Prix

The R.S. 16 was officially launched in Paris, in February 2016.^[11]

The R.S. 16 was a poor performer across the season for the team. Retirements were a regular occurrence during the season. In Bahrain, Palmer was unable to start the Grand Prix as his car failed during the formation lap.^[12] In Monaco, both cars would retire from the race, Palmer crashed as soon as the safety car allowed the race to begin, while Magnussen was involved in an incident at Rascasse when Daniil Kvyat attempted to unlap himself.^[13][14] Magnussen would retire at three more Grand Prix - Belgium, Malaysia and Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, his team mate Palmer chalked up another four retirements before the end of the season in Canada, Britain, Singapore and Brazil. This meant that across the 21 races, at 9 rounds at least one R.S. 16 did not make the finish.

Reserve driver Esteban Ocon driving the R.S.16 during the FP1 of the British Grand Prix

The team scored points at three races, a seventh place finish in Russia for Magnussen being the cars best finish. He would score a further point in Singapore, and Palmer a point at Malaysia - his first in F1.^[15][16]

Scoring just 8 points during the season, it represented the team's worst performance since 2014, and for Renault as a constructor since 1978.^[17]

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Entrant	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	Points	WCC
2016	Renault Sport F1 Team	Renault RE16 1.6 V6t	P		AUS	BHR	CHN	RUS	ESP	MON	CAN	EUR	AUT	GBR	HUN	GER	BEL	ITA	SIN	MAL	JPN	USA	MEX	BRA	ABU	8	9th
				Kevin Magnussen	12	11	17	7	15	Ret	16	14	14	17†	15	16	Ret	17	10	Ret	14	12	17	14	Ret
				Jolyon Palmer	11	DNS	22	13	13	Ret	Ret	15	12	Ret	12	19	15	Ret	15	10	12	13	14	Ret	17

† – Driver did not finish the Grand Prix, but were classified as they completed more than 90% of the race distance.

Renault Clio R.S. 16

Renault Clio R.S. 16 developed and inspired by the return to Formula One

During the season, Renault's developed a Clio R.S. 16 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Renault Sport and their return to Formula One. The concept car was painted in the same colours as the R.S.16 Formula One car, and the promotional launch of the car featured Kevin Magnussen driving it at Monaco.^[18][19] The car also featured at the 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed.^[20]

References

1. "Renault Partnership - ELF". elf.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
2. Barretto, Lawrence (3 February 2016). "Renault launches its 2016 Formula 1 project". Autosport.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
3. "2016 Drivers and Teams". racefans.net. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
4. "Renault Sport R.S.16". F1 Technical. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
5. "Renault RS16 hits the track". pitpass.com. 22 February 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
6. "2016 F1 testing: How the teams rated in the first Barcelona test". Sky Sports F1. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
7. "Renault surprised by performance of RS16 car in F1 testing". Autosport. 7 March 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
8. "Renault leave most engine tokens unused". F1 Technical. 19 March 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
9. "Ricciardo, Magnussen get upgraded engines for Monaco". Formula One. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
10. "Renault halts 2016 F1 car development". Motorsport. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
11. "Renault launch 2016 car with Kevin Magnussen alongside Jolyon Palmer". Sky Sports. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
12. "Palmer upbeat about Renault F1 progress, despite missing Bahrain GP". Autosport. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
13. "F1 Monaco GP: Palmer a passenger in early exit". crash.net. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
14. "Renault F1's Vasseur slates Kvyat after Magnussen Monaco GP clash". Autosport. 30 May 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
15. "Renault R.S.16". Stats F1. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
16. "Palmer "ecstatic" to score first F1 point in Malaysia". Motorsport. 3 October 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
17. "Formula One Standings 2016". ESPN. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
18. "CLIO R.S.16: A NEW CONCEPT CAR TO SHOWCASE RENAULT SPORT'S EXPERTISE". Renault. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
19. "Renault Clio RenaultSport R.S. 16 2016 review". Auto Express. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
20. "Renault Marks 40 Years Of Renault Sport With Special Clio RS". Goodwood. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.