Renault R.S.16
| Industry | Motorsport |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Lotus E23 Hybrid, Renault R31 |
| Successor | Renault R.S.17 |
| Headquarters | Enstone , United Kingdom |
| Products | Formula One cars |
| Parent | Renault |
{{Racing car
| Car_name = Renault R.S.16
| Image = Jolyon Palmer 2016 Malaysia FP2 1.jpg
|Image_size=275px
| Caption = The Renault R.S.16 piloted by Jolyon Palmer during the
| Category = Formula One
| Constructor = Renault
| Designer = Bob Bell
Nick Chester
Chris Cooney
Martin Tolliday
Simon Virrill
Nicolas Hennel
Jon Tomlinson
| Predecessor = Lotus E23 Hybrid - Lotus Engineering
Renault R31 - Renault branded
| Successor = Renault R.S.17
| Team = Renault Sport F1 Team
| Chassis = Carbon fibre moulded monocoque with aluminium honeycomb composite survival cell
|Front suspension = Carbon fibre upper and lower wishbones actuating an inboard rocker via pushrod mechanism linked to torsion bar and Multimatic damper units housed within the monocoque, plus aluminum uprights
|Rear suspension = Carbon fibre upper and lower wishbones using pull rod-driven torsion springs and transversely mounted damper units located inside the gearbox casing, combined with aluminum uprights
| Engine name = Mecachrome-manufactured and assembled Renault R.E.16
| Capacity =
| Configuration = single-turbocharged 90° V6 engine, with a maximum of 15,000 RPM
| Engine position = Mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive layout
| Electric motor = Infiniti kinetic energy recovery system and thermal energy recovery system
| Brakes = Carbon discs paired with steel calipers
| Tyres = Dry slick Pirelli P Zero and treaded intermediate/wet Pirelli Cinturato tyres
OZ Racing aluminum racing wheels (front and rear)
| Gearbox name = Renault in-house design
| Gears = Eight-speed plus one reverse
| Type = Titanium sequential seamless semi-automatic paddle-shift gearbox featuring “Quickshift” technology for optimized gear change speed
| Differential = Limited-slip differential
| Clutch = Electro-hydraulically controlled carbon multi-plate clutch by AP Racing
| Length =
| Width =
| Height =
| Wheelbase = Over
| Weight = including driver
| Fuel = Total Excellium 102 RON blend consisting of 94.25% fossil fuel and 5.75% biofuel
| Lubricants = Total Quartz 9000 and Elf HTX 840
|}
The Renault R.S.16—initially designated as the Lotus E24 Hybrid—was engineered by the Renault Sport Formula One Team for competition in the 2016 Formula One season. This model signified Renault's comeback as a constructor after a five-year hiatus. It was also Renault’s first turbocharged Formula One vehicle since the RE60 model of , and marked the first Enstone-based car to utilize fuels and lubricants from TotalEnergies since the Lotus E22 of .
The driving lineup comprised Kevin Magnussen and Jolyon Palmer, supported by reserve driver Esteban Ocon. Although Pastor Maldonado was initially confirmed as a driver, he lost his position due to financial issues faced by sponsor PDVSA amid declining oil prices.
Technical team
The chassis development was led by Nick Chester, Chris Cooney, Martin Tolliday, and Nicolas Hennel, with Bob Bell serving as the chief technical officer responsible for overseeing both design and manufacturing. Powertrain design was headed by Rémi Taffin. Assembly took place in Enstone, Oxfordshire, while the engine was delivered from the Renault facility in Viry-Châtillon, France.
Vehicle development
Nick Chester highlighted that financial limitations within the Lotus outfit restricted the scope of preparations for 2016. Adapting to Renault power units necessitated extensive changes to a chassis originally engineered for Mercedes engines. The R.S. 16 was intended as a platform for development, incorporating aerodynamic ideas carried over from the 2015 model alongside a slightly updated version of the previous year’s engine. Early testing also involved adjustments to comply with FIA regulations, such as increased cockpit side height.
During initial pre-season trials, the car sported a black livery. At the Barcelona test session, the team completed 343 laps (equivalent to 992 miles), with Kevin Magnussen contributing 260 laps despite limited running during the first two days. By the conclusion of the second test, total laps accumulated to 776, although Jolyon Palmer encountered mechanical setbacks.
At the season's outset, the FIA confirmed that Renault had utilized only 7 out of 32 permissible engine development tokens, allowing for future upgrades. An enhanced engine version was introduced at Monaco, with Magnussen receiving the B-specification unit while Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull Racing ran a TAG-branded variant.
By mid-July, Renault halted further upgrades on the R.S. 16 to concentrate resources on developing their 2017 car.
Season summary
The R.S. 16 made its official debut in Paris during February 2016.
Throughout the season, the R.S. 16 struggled with reliability issues and underwhelming performance. At the Bahrain event, Palmer was unable to start due to a car malfunction on the formation lap. During the Monaco race, both drivers retired early—Palmer after a first-lap crash and Magnussen following contact with Daniil Kvyat at Rascasse. Magnussen faced retirements in three additional races: Belgium, Malaysia, and Abu Dhabi. Palmer also suffered four more retirements across Canada, Britain, Singapore, and Brazil. Over 21 races, at least one R.S. 16 failed to finish in nine events.
Points were scored in only three Grands Prix, with Magnussen’s seventh-place finish in Russia representing the best result. He also earned a point in Singapore, while Palmer claimed his first Formula 1 point at Malaysia.
Accumulating just 8 points throughout the year, this was Renault’s weakest constructor championship showing since 1978 and their poorest team outcome since 2014.
Sponsorship and livery
During its launch and pre-season testing phases, the R.S.16 featured a predominantly black base color accented by yellow highlights. The car prominently displayed Renault branding alongside white logos from sponsors including Infiniti, Microsoft Dynamics, Jack & Jones, TotalEnergies (Total), and EMC Corporation. Additionally, Genii Capital—former owner and current shareholder—had its emblem positioned on both the front suspension strut and engine cover.
Comprehensive Formula One Results
(Key) (Bold text denotes pole position; italicized text signifies fastest lap)
| Season | Team | Power Unit | Tyre Supplier | Competitors | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | Points Scored | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:F1 | Renault Sport F1 Team | Renault RE16 1.6 V6 turbocharged | Template:Pirelli | 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 | 12th | 11th | 17th | 7th | 15th | Retired | 16th | 14th | 14th | 17th† | 15th | 16th | Retired | 17th | 10th | Retired | 14th | 12th | 17th | 14th | Retired | ||||||
| Jolyon Palmer | 11th | DNS | 22nd | 13th | 13th | Retired | Retired | 15th | 12th | Retired | 12th | 19th | 15th | Retired | 15th | 10th | 12th | 13th | 14th | Retired | 17th |
† – Classified despite not finishing, having completed over ninety percent of the race distance.
Renault Clio R.S. 16
To commemorate the 40th year of Renault Sport and their return to Formula One, Renault introduced the Clio R.S. 16. This concept vehicle sported the identical color scheme as the R.S.16 F1 race car. Its debut was notably marked by Kevin Magnussen piloting it through Monaco. Additionally, the car was presented at the 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed.