Renault: Frédéric Vasseur wants a motivated and inspiring driver

When he took the helm at Renault, Frédéric Vasseur knew he wouldn’t immediately experience the same success he had at ART Grand Prix, as he stated to the official F1 site: « Well, I knew before the season that it would be a bit difficult! From the outside, people probably don’t have the same understanding of the experience: if you want to be successful, you sometimes have to be willing to bite the dust. It’s a long-term project: we have to build an entirely new team. »

If Renault has embarked on a large-scale recruitment campaign, particularly for the Enstone site, one of the central points of the project obviously concerns the drivers and more specifically its headline driver. Indeed, it is convinced that the team must be built around a leading driver: « *If you look at past successes, success has always been built around a driver: Schumacher and Ferrari, Vettel and Red Bull, Lewis and Mercedes, and also Alonso and Renault in the past. The driver is therefore important.* »

But if pure speed is obviously indispensable, it’s also his mindset that is essential to uplift the entire team staff: « A driver is not only about performance but also about his ability to lead a team. Today, we have more or less 1000 people in the team, combining Viry and Enstone, and it requires leading them: that’s the driver’s job! We need a driver who is super motivated and also capable of super-motivating everyone. »

When asked if he believes his two current drivers, Kevin Magnussen and Jolyon Palmer, possess these attributes, the Frenchman sidesteps the question: « They’re improving. We know where we are on the grid. So improving is imperative for us. »

He therefore does not intend to make an immediate decision, especially since several opportunities might arise. Indeed, if McLaren does not appoint Stoffel Vandoorne, his former director in GP2 would be delighted to bring the Belgian on board. Similarly, if Esteban Ocon proves himself in his debut with Manor, he would appear to be an ideal candidate, especially since the two men won the GP3 title together.

Another name that repeatedly comes up is Sergio Perez. After his unsuccessful stint at McLaren, the former Ferrari protégé made a strong comeback with Sahara Force India, where he managed to reach the podium four times. Joining Renault is almost his last chance to be part of a manufacturer team and aim for victories and titles. The 26-year-old driver knows he is at a crucial point in his career.

With the participation of www.racingbusiness.fr