The Renault R.S.19 is a Formula One racing car designed and constructed by the Renault F1 Team to compete during the 2019 FIA Formula One World Championship.[2] The chassis was designed by Nick Chester, Chris Cooney, Martin Tolliday, Simon Virrill and Pete Machin with Marcin Budkowski overseeing the design and production of the car as executive technical director and Rémi Taffin leading the powertrain design. The car was driven by Nico Hülkenberg and Daniel Ricciardo.[2] The car made its competitive debut at the 2019 Australian Grand Prix.

Renault R.S.19
Daniel Ricciardo driving the R.S.19 during the Austrian Grand Prix
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorRenault
Designer(s)Nick Chester (Chassis Technical Director)
Naoki Tokunaga (Chief Transformation Officer)
Chris Cooney (Engineering Director)
Martin Tolliday (Chief Designer)
Simon Virrill (Project Leader)
Matthew Harman (Chief Engineer)
Pete Machin (Head of Aerodynamics)
PredecessorRenault R.S.18
SuccessorRenault R.S.20
Technical specifications[1]
Length5,480 mm (216 in)
Width2,000 mm (79 in)
Height950 mm (37 in)
Axle track1,600 mm (63 in)
EngineMecachrome-built and assembled Renault E-Tech 19 1.6 L (98 cu in) direct injection V6 turbocharged engine limited to 15,000 RPM
Electric motorRenault kinetic and thermal energy recovery systems
TransmissionEight-speed semi-automatic sequential carbon gearbox with reverse gears
PowerAround 1000HP in qualifying
Weight743 kg (1,638 lb) with driver, ballast and camera
FuelBP Ultimate
LubricantsCastrol EDGE
BrakesCarbon disks and pads
TyresPirelli P Zero (dry)
Pirelli Cinturato (wet)
OZ forged magnesium wheels: 13"
Competition history
Notable entrantsRenault F1 Team
Notable drivers
Debut2019 Australian Grand Prix
Last event2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
210000

Season notes

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For the 2019 season Renault signed Daniel Ricciardo from Red Bull, partnering Nico Hülkenberg on his third season with the team.[3]

A tough first part of the season for Renault saw them only scoring 39 points in the first 12 rounds;[4] 43 less than what they did at the same point in 2018.[5] This resulted them sitting 6th in the Constructors' Championship at the mid-season break.

After Racing Point's protest against Renault's innovative brake balance adjustment system, which didn't break any rule from the technical regulations, but failed to comply with one of the rules written in the sporting regulations ("Driver must drive the car alone and unaided."), the French team was disqualified from the Japanese Grand Prix results.[6] The system automatically changed the brake balance as the car drove around the track. At the end of the season, Renault finished 5th in the Constructors' Championship.

 
Hülkenberg took seventh at the Canadian Grand Prix

Renault performed particularly well in most power circuits. In Canada, they were comfortably best of the rest, finishing sixth and seventh. Daniel Ricciardo was able to fight and hold off Valtteri Bottas in a much faster Mercedes for a few laps. In the Italian Grand Prix they managed to beat both Red Bulls and Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel (although helped by the fact that he spun in the early stages of the race), to take a comfortable 4th and 5th.

Design and development

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Renault's managing director Cyril Abiteboul said that the gains they made in the engine side were the biggest since 2016.[7] The team brought new updates to the car throughout the season. One of the biggest they got was the update package for the French Grand Prix,[8] which failed to provide the expected leap in performance.[9]

Although the engine's performance provided Renault with some positive results at circuits where engine power was vital, such as at the Italian Grand Prix, poor aerodynamics and reliability issues lead to the team being unable to escape the midfield,[10] with 8 races in which neither driver achieved points.

At the end of the season, Renault F1 Team announced changes to the aerodynamic department of their team as a result of the R.S.19's failures. Chassis Technical Director Nick Chester would leave the team,[11] with former Ferrari and McLaren chassis engineer Pat Fry and former Williams and Ferrari aerodynamicist Dirk de Beer to join the team.[12]

Complete Formula One results

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(key)

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers Grands Prix Points WCC
AUS BHR CHN AZE ESP MON CAN FRA AUT GBR GER HUN BEL ITA SIN RUS JPN MEX USA BRA ABU
2019 Renault F1 Team Renault E-Tech 19 P Nico Hülkenberg 7 17 Ret 14 13 13 7 8 13 10 Ret 12 8 5 9 10 DSQ 10 9 15 12 91 5th
Daniel Ricciardo Ret 18 7 Ret 12 9 6 11 12 7 Ret 14 14 4 14 Ret DSQ 8 6 6 11
Source:[13][14]

Driver failed to finish the race, but was classified as they had completed over 90% of the winner's race distance.

References

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  1. ^ "La fiche technique de la Renault R.S.19 - Motorsport.com". fr.motorsport.com (in French). Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Renault reveal Ricciardo and Hulkenberg's new R.S.19". www.formula1.com. 12 February 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  3. ^ "Formula 1 - Press release - Daniel Ricciardo joins Renault Sport Formula One Team from 2019". Renault Sport. 3 August 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  4. ^ "Hungary 2019 - Championship". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  5. ^ "Hungary 2018 - Championship". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  6. ^ "Renault disqualified from results of the Japanese Grand Prix". www.formula1.com. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  7. ^ Noble, Jonathan (4 January 2019). "Renault F1 engine gains 'much bigger' than ever before". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  8. ^ Noble, Jonathan (4 June 2019). "Renault to bring "substantial" upgrade for F1's French Grand Prix". Autosport.com. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  9. ^ Noble, Jonathan. "Failed French Grand Prix upgrade triggered Renault F1 reshuffle". Autosport.com. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
  10. ^ Horton, Phillip. "Formula 1: Review: Renault's F1 project hits a stumbling block". Motorsport Week. Archived from the original on 2019-12-23. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
  11. ^ "Formula 1 - Press release - Nick Chester, Technical Director Chassis, to leave Renault F1 Team - renaultsport.com". Renault Sport. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
  12. ^ Cooper, Adam. "Renault F1 team signs ex-McLaren and Ferrari man Pat Fry". Autosport.com. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
  13. ^ "Renault R.S.19". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  14. ^ "Renault - Seasons". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 1 November 2019.