Renault’s focus on its Formula 1 campaign prompted the manufacturer to leave Formula E next season.
With other manufacturers ending their World Endurance Championship or DTM operations to focus on FE, Renault’s attention is on F1. It’s return as a manufacturer team in 2016 sparked aggressive recruitment and managing director Cyril Abiteboul told Autosport that the team needs more personnel in order to keep pace with the competition.
That means pulling out of FE, where the French manufacturer has been a dominant force, taking the teams’ championship with e.dams in the 2015-16 and 16-17 seasons. The partnership will continue in season four, which begins in December, but Nissan will take over from season five onwards.
“We had an incredible championship during our first three years in Formula E and look forward to a competitive fourth season with the benefit of a very stable environment at Renault e.dams,” said Thierry Koskas, Groupe Renault executive vice president of sales and marketing.
“As a pioneer in EV, we have learned a tremendous amount about high-performance electric vehicles and energy management that directly benefits our EV customers.
“After season four, we will focus resources on our aggressive goals for Formula 1 and we look forward to continuing to gain benefits from motorsport racing across the alliance with Nissan.”
It’s understood Renault has already begun development of the season five powertrain, meaning Nissan will use Renault technology in its first season in FE. The powertrain will likely be homologated as Nissan’s.
Renault is aiming for fifth in the F1 standings this season, but has its sights set on the title fight in 2020.
