Renault engines secure 200th pole in Formula 1 at Korean Grand Prix

Red Bull Racing’s Mark Webber secured the 200th pole for Renault engines in Formula 1 with a superb lap round the Korean International Circuit today.

The Australian’s dramatic pole position now makes Renault only the second engine manufacturer in F1 history to record a double century of pole positions.

Pole sitter Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing celebrates 200 pole position for Renault in F1

Photo by: xpb.cc

The Losange’s first pole was achieved back in 1979 at the South African Grand Prix when Renault made its first foray into F1 with the V6 engine.

Since then, some 22 drivers have contributed to the roll of honour, including eight World Champions. Six of them recorded their first ever pole positions with Renault power, including Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, and six also went on to win world titles with Renault.

The total is split fairly evenly between the different Renault engine configurations, with 50 achieved by the V6 turbo (1977-86), 44 by the 3.5 litre V10 (1989-94), 53 by the 3.0-litre V10 (1995-97 and 2001-2005) and 53 by the 2.4-litre V8 (2006-2012).

Jean-François Caubet, managing director of Renault Sport F1, commented, ‘Reaching 200 poles is a milestone in our F1 history. Looking back on our involvement in the sport, in the first years of the turbo I don’t think anyone would have thought we could reach this figure!

Over time, the team in Viry has worked to develop each of the different engines produced, from V6 to V10, to make each as quick and reliable as they can.

We are proud of our achievement and would like to thank all our partners and Renault-engined drivers who have contributed to this achievement.’

Key facts and figures in Renault’s F1 pole history

First pole position: 1979 South African GP, Jean-Pierre Jabouille

Poles by Engine Type:

1.5 V6 Turbo (1977 – 1986): 50
3.5 V10 (1989-1994): 44
3.0 V10 (1995-97 and 2001-2005): 53
2.4 V8 (2006-2012): 53

Renault poles by Drivers: Vettel: 33, Prost: 23, Hill: 20, Mansell: 18, Senna: 18, Alonso: 16, Arnoux: 14, Villeneuve: 13, Webber: 11, Jabouille: 6, Patrese: 6, Coulthard: 5, Schumacher: 4, De Angelis: 3, Trulli: 2, Fisichella: 2, Tambay: 1, Boutsen: 1, Frentzen: 1, Berger: 1, Alesi: 1, Maldonado: 1

Renault poles by Teams: Williams: 80, Red Bull: 44, Renault (France): 31, Renault (Enstone): 20, Lotus: 19, Benetton: 6

Source: Renault Sport F1