All smiles at the Renault Sport F1 launch today
Renault unveiled its F1 team’s new identity in Paris today, and in so doing formally confirmed that Kevin Magnussen will partner Jolyon Palmer in 2016.
The former Lotus outfit will officially be known as Renault Sport F1 Team. It’s clear that the Renault Sport brand is a key part of the marketing strategy as the company tries to link F1 and other racing programs to its high performance road cars.
Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn said: “Motorsports still spark the imagination of both enthusiasts and everyday drivers, and we are putting a comprehensive program in place today. Formula 1 is a big part of our efforts to boost awareness of Renault, particularly in markets where Renault is a newcomer, and will enhance the transfer of technologies from the track to our road cars.”
ART GP2 boss Frederic Vasseur has finally been confirmed in the role of racing director, while after a successful spell at Renault Bob Bell returned to Enstone last year to become chief technical officer.
Renault unveiled its new car in the form of the RS16, a type number that harks back to the original RS01 F1 car of 1977. Later works cars used the RE designation, for Renault Elf, while the Enstone cars of the 2000s were known as R202, R23 and so on.
The launch car has a predominantly black livery, with a limited amount of yellow. It carries prominent branding from Infiniti, and from Jack and Jones, the Danish sponsor associated with Kevin Magnussen.
Esteban Ocon has been confirmed as the team’s test driver. He was with Lotus until 2014 before joining Mercedes as a junior driver last year.
Adam Cooper's F1 Blog 
Why the Infiniti branding…? Substitute brand awareness in markets in which Renault doesn’t operate (USA for starters)?
Infiniti is a the upscale brand of Nissan sold here in the USA. No Renaults sold here for a few years, so they get some cross marketing to their American cousins through the Infiniti brand.
Terrible livery: the same as Haas, McLaren & the grey corporate pack. Yet another example of how F1 “listens” to its fans. Horrible. Zero imagination. I disrespect dis “colour” scheme.
I’d wager this is not the racing livrey. Lots of yellow will be prominently featured. My preference would be the yellow-blue combo of the Alonso title years, but yellow-black will be cool as well.
Hope so. Yer words 2 Carlos Ghost ears.