1
Renault Academy Director Mia Sharizman says that the Enstone outfit is aiming to promote one of its junior drivers into Formula 1 by the 2021 season. After re-joining the grid in 2016, Renault rebooted its junior programme with the aim of finding its own talent.
It currently has seven drivers tied to the programme, the most prominent of which being Jack Aitken, who competed in the FIA Formula 2 championship this year, and Sacha Fenestraz who raced in the European Formula 3 championship in 2018.
“The objective of the Academy has always been long-term: to have an Academy driver in the Formula 1 race seat by 2021,” Sharizman said. “We’re making small steps and at this stage, we are meeting our targets. Drivers are beginning to fulfil certain, prominent roles within the team and this will continue to grow.”
The junior programmes of the top three teams (Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull) have proved to be very efficient in recent years, with 10 out of the 20 2019 drivers getting their F1 break through one of those academies.
As Renault aims to claw in on the top three by investing more money into its F1 project, it will continue to add to its junior programme. Sharizman will announce its 2019 line-up early next year, admitting that 2018 wasn't “a perfect year” for them.
"As the year draws to a close, it marks the end of the third full year of the Renault Sport Academy and the end of the first of two phases of the programme,” he said. “Reflecting on this season, it’s simple to say that we all want a perfect year; something that is very unlikely.
“Title wins are of course the better moments for young drivers, their teams and for us as a development programme. But it’s not always just about winning titles, more the manner in the way they are won. There are certain moments in a season where you realise which drivers you want to develop further.
“There are also moments – sometimes away from the track - where you see the necessary characteristics required to go all the way within a driver: ruthlessness, a champion attitude, team work and hunger.”
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
M. Verstappen
C. Sainz jr
C. Leclerc
Bahrain
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
Australia
Albert Park
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
925 comments on Williams
0 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Jack Aitken
236,800 comments on Renault 27 members have this team as their favourite Tweets about Renault
Replies (1)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
And I bet McLaren will be... "convinced"... to accept that driver?