Renault say goodbye to Michelin

After six seasons of shared endeavour, Michelin and the Renault F1 Team concluded their F1 relationship as champions. The secret? Trust. The French tyre manufacturer believes there is no need to continue in a sport where no real tyre competition is allowed in the next few years. It is however extremely happy to have won F1 again with its French companion Renault.

As the skies darkened above the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo two weeks ago, the women and men of Michelin left the F1 paddock for the final time with a feeling of satisfaction. The Renault F1 Team’s double championship win meant ‘mission accomplished’ for the team from Clermont-Ferrand, and it was testament to an exemplary partnership. During six seasons spent working closely together, the two partners acquired the shared instincts and working methods needed for real, collaborative success. The result was mutual trust, and victories across the globe.

“Motor sport is part of the company culture at Michelin, and we enjoyed a genuine partnership with them,” explains Renault F1 Team’s Executive Director of Engineering Pat Symonds. “Michelin have a deep understanding of both competition tyres and racing cars. Gradually, we managed to establish very close links between our organisations.”

From 2001 to 2006, the two partners rose up the F1 field hand in hand, via more-focused, better-performing products. After twice finishing fourth in the constructors’ championship (2002, 2003), then third (2004), Renault achieved its ultimate aim in 2005 with double championship victory. The key to their success?

“It had three main stages in my opinion,” explains Michelin’s F1 programme director Nick Shorrock. “Development, exploitation and human qualities. Our work began far upstream when we needed to understand the dynamic characteristics of a particular car, and develop tyres to suite. Once the tyres had been produced, we needed to test them rigorously and methodically, then choose the best among them. After that, it’s the quality of the communication that makes the real difference.”

After this dramatic success in 2005, just three years after Renault’s return to the top level of motor sport, the two partners tackled a new challenge: retaining their titles in 2006. During a season where tyres were often the deciding factor, the French manufacturer never once gave up the fight – right the way to the final race! In Brazil, Bibendum celebrated an historic success with nostalgia, as they left the paddock for the final time… Thank you Michelin!