2027: driver-centric and engaging racing

Renault’s vision of Formula 1, ten years from now, places people at the centre –one of Renault’s core values– as a vital cornerstone of F1 experience. Propelled by a high-powered engine, the driver can showcase qualities as a top athlete for the pleasure of fans. More attractive, Formula 1 also becomes safer, to better protect participants, and takes more active responsibility towards the environment.

The year is 2027. At every Grand Prix, the competition is fierce. With a weight / power ratio never before reached in the history of Formula 1 (1 megawatt on the whole for a weight limited to 600 kilos), human performance is at the heart of the sport.

To make Formula 1 more captivating, fans benefit from a closer connection to the driver, whether they are watching trackside or on television.

- Thanks to its transparent cockpit, the R.S. 2027 Vision concept provides the best-ever view of the driver at work. This resistant, lightweight shell is 3D-printed, with forms tailored to the driver’s body, mirroring how the design of Renault’s road-going models is directly inspired by the human body.

- The helmet is also transparent, enabling fans to see the driver’s face and expressions.

- Active LED lighting incorporated into the wheels displays a range of information, including the driver’s position and the car’s remaining energy reserves, making it easier for spectators and television viewers alike to understand how the race unfolds.

- The digital display in the centre of the steering wheel informs the driver of his ‘fan ranking’ position, which is determined by spectators’ interaction on social media, rewarding the most deserving driver on the track with an additional boost of power in the last laps.

- Some of the driver’s telemetry data is accessible to fans via the Internet, enhancing their overall understanding of the race and the strategy. This data also allows connected players to participate real-time in the race and compete against their heroes.

In terms of design, Formula 1 evolves to become equally appealing to racing enthusiasts while it attracts new fans.

- The cars are instantly recognisable as F1 single-seaters, with their long, slender nose, side pods and four open wheels. Their design is both finely-honed and more aggressive.

- In addition to the roles they play in optimising performance and energy efficiency, the combination of mobile aerodynamic features and active lighting systems make the cars more ‘communicative’ for spectators and television viewers.

- In the case of the R.S. 2027 Vision, bold features like the C-shaped LED front lights and the illuminated Renault diamond on the engine cover provide a visual tie between the racing car and Renault’s road-going models.

- To make the show even more captivating for spectators, the colour emitted by these lights switches from a white to a blue hue when the electric mode is activated.

R.S. 2027 Vision: 50 years of Renault Formula 1 drawing from the past, envisioning the future

As Renault prepares to celebrate 40 years of involvement in Formula 1 in 2017, the R.S. 2027 Vision concept envisions F1 at 50. Renault’s design team created it in collaboration with Renault Sport Racing. In addition to all the fundamentals expected from a Formula 1 car, it also features Renault and Renault Sport cues, including the logos and emblems of both brands.

- The R.S. 2027 Vision concept carries over some of the classic attributes of Renault’s very first Formula 1 car – the RS01 from 1977 – such as its V6 turbocharged engine. Elements like its peripheral rear wing and livery provide similar flashbacks.

- Like the Espace F1 in the mid-1990s, the R.S. 2027 Vision comes in Renault Sport’s traditional yellow-and-black Formula 1 colour scheme. In this case, the colours are embellished with a metallic finish that enhances the car’s visual appeal. The yellow particularly stands out for its gold leaf effect embodying quality, technological prowess and high performance.

The R.S. 2027 Vision concept not only seeks to pay tribute to four decades of Renault dedication, innovation and success in Formula 1, but also underlines a strong commitment to the future.

- It shows how the passion that drives the brand also applies to its motorsport activities, resulting in the development of major technological innovations.

- This technology –and the specific design elements born of it– is clearly visible in the concept.

- Everything about the R.S. 2027 Vision has been conceived to optimise performance and enhance the entertainment value of Formula 1.

In Renault’s ‘Cycle of Life’ design strategy, the R.S. 2027 Vision embodies the “play” petal.

“The melding of creative energy and technical expertise from Renault’s design teams and Renault Sport Racing has created a visionary yet completely credible and authentic R.S. 2027 Vision; a Formula 1 exercise that puts people at the heart of the sport, and communicates Renault’s view of the F1 future.” Stéphane Janin – Director, Concept Car Design

Safety, always one of Groupe Renault’s chief objectives, naturally remains a priority in Formula 1 in 2027. Numerous decisions have been taken to make the discipline even safer for all involved, notably the drivers.

- The F1 cars incorporate autonomous driving functions. This delegation of driving duties is automatically activated in the situation of race incidents (safety car, virtual safety car, yellow flags, etc.). In this situation, the mandatory single-file running and accompanying restrictions (ban on overtaking, speed limits, etc.) are managed entirely by the car, minimising the risk of further accidents and ensuring the safety of competitors and track marshals alike.

- The car’s closed cockpit protects the driver from flying debris and other dangerous objects that have the potential to strike with force. This aerodynamic canopy has been produced in polycarbonate, which is ultra- resistant to impact and flames.

- It is framed by two titanium ‘pop-up’ roll-over bars that emerge from their unobtrusive location in milliseconds should the car overturn, providing the driver –still strapped into the seat– with an essential gap between the cockpit and the ground from which to escape.

- These two features were both specifically designed to allow the driver to be able to extract himself from his car in the event of an accident in which their car overturns, and not to hamper the efforts of rescue teams if required.

Safety is similarly ensured by the ultra-connected nature of these Formula 1 cars –increasingly common features across Renault’s passenger car range. These functions exchange information based on what is happening in the race, seamlessly.

- Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication with the other cars in the race, so that every driver knows exactly where each of their competitors is on the track or in the pit-lane. This feeds information to the pit lane’s predictive collision warning system, preventing teams from releasing a driver while another car is passing by at speed.

- Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication with peripheral systems on the steering wheel’s digital screen, including the immediate display of instructions given by the race director, such as yellow or blue flags. A direct link is established with the marshals in the section of the track where each car is running.

In Renault’s 2027 vision, Formula 1 also focuses on sustainable technology and systems to gradually reduce its ‘carbon footprint.’

- Designing the individual parts of a Formula 1 car now requires less time and tooling thanks to increasing use of 3D-printing. This benefits the R.S. 2027 Vision concept as it previously benefited TREZOR, the Renault concept car unveiled at the 2016 Paris Motor Show that formally launched the brand’s new design cycle.

- The new materials used by 3D printers to produce parts are more recycling-friendly than many composite materials they replace.

These decisions serve to make the cars both safer and cleaner, without detracting from the spirit of single- seater racing.