Renault R24

Renault R24
Industry	Formula One racing
Founded	2004
Key people	Mike Gascoyne, Bob Bell, Tim Densham, Dino Toso, Pat Symonds, Bernard Dudot
Products	Formula One car

The Renault R24 took part in 18 Grands Prix throughout the 2004 Formula One World Championship season.

Design and development

The chassis design was a collaborative effort led by Mike Gascoyne, Bob Bell, Tim Densham, and Dino Toso, with Pat Symonds serving as Executive Director of Engineering to supervise the overall design and manufacturing process. Engine development was directed by Bernard Dudot.

R24B

Renault unveiled the enhanced R24B model at the San Marino Grand Prix, incorporating redesigned cylinder heads, an upgraded intake system, and adjustments to the engine’s lower components.

Racing history

Throughout the season, the car proved to be both fast and dependable, surpassing competitors such as Williams and McLaren, while regularly challenging the BAR Hondas driven by Jenson Button and Takuma Sato. Despite this, it could not match the superior pace of the dominant Ferrari F2004, piloted by Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello, who claimed victory in 15 of the 18 races. Renault’s driver roster consisted of Jarno Trulli and Fernando Alonso.

The team positioned itself as a strong contender for second place in the Constructors' Championship after Trulli and Alonso secured third and fourth positions at the Spanish Grand Prix. Trulli achieved a win at the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix, but his rapport with Renault, especially with team principal Flavio Briatore, declined following a downturn in his results late in the year. Trulli accused the team of favoring Alonso, although both drivers maintained a professional relationship.

A significant moment occurred at the French Grand Prix when Trulli was passed by Rubens Barrichello near the race’s conclusion, denying Renault a double podium finish on home soil. After failing to score points in five consecutive races, Trulli was released from his contract and subsequently joined Toyota F1, competing in their car for the final two rounds of 2004.

To bolster their challenge for second place in the Constructors' standings, Renault signed former World Champion Jacques Villeneuve for the last three events. Villeneuve faced difficulties acclimating following nearly a year away from Formula One, and Renault ultimately finished third behind BAR with a total of 105 points.

Livery

The 2004 season saw a change in Renault’s livery, eliminating the dark blue highlights on the engine cover and altering the rear wing color from white. New sponsorship deals were secured with Telefónica and i-Mode, while retaining support from Hanjin. The team carried 'Mild Seven' branding except at the Canadian, French, and British Grands Prix, where car numbers and driver names replaced it.

Use in Top Gear

The R24 was "lent" to The Stig for an episode of Top Gear. Renault asserted that it could complete a lap around the Top Gear test track in under one minute; it recorded a time of 59.0 seconds, setting a new fastest lap on that circuit at the time. It was later revealed that Renault’s test driver, Heikki Kovalainen, disguised as The Stig, was behind the wheel. This record remained unbroken for 21 years until it was eclipsed by the McMurtry Spéirling, which posted a lap time of 55.9 seconds.

Complete Formula One Results

(key) (bold denotes pole position)

Year	Team	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	Points	WCC
2004	Renault F1	Renault V10	Template:Michelin		AUS	MAL	BHR	SMR	ESP	MON	EUR	CAN	USA	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	CHN	JPN	BRA	105	3rd
				Template:Country data ITA Template:Namespace detect showall Jarno Trulli	7	5	4	5	3	1	4	Retired	4	4	Retired	'11'	Retired	'9'	'10'						-	Template:Country data ESP Template:Namespace detect showall Fernando Alonso	"3"	"7"	"6"	"4"	"4"	"Retired"	"5"	"Retired"	"Retired"	"2"	"10"	"3"	"3"	"Retired"	"Retired"	"4"	"5"	"4"	-