Renault launched its '17 F1 car -- the RS17 -- on Tuesday, ahead of the beginning of preseason testing next week in Barcelona, according to Sean Gibson of the London TELEGRAPH. The manufacturer, which finished a "disappointing" ninth in the '16 season, is hoping its new chassis will carry the team "to greater success." The only "clue to be gleaned" from the advance promotional material about the RS17's design was the inclusion of a "thumb-style" nosecone -- a "much-maligned concept in recent years." The new Renault car also joins in with the expected revival of "shark-fin" engine covers last seen in '10. The French manufacturer "used the event to welcome former driver and four-time champion Alain Prost" to its staff as a special adviser (TELEGRAPH, 2/21). REUTERS' Alan Baldwin reported the team, which has its engine plant in France and main factory in England, "invested heavily in adding head count and infrastructure over the past year with the aim of returning to the top" by '20. Renault Sport Racing President Jerome Stoll said, "We expect to be fifth in the championship. We are hungry for the podium, hungry for success" (REUTERS, 2/21).
