Overview
The R202 was Renault, Renault's official return to Formula One as a chassis maker and full team for 2002. The R202 was launched in Paris, France on 27 January 2002. Benetton, the team they had purchased, were fully rebranded into the Renault family with the car featuring prominent yellow streaks against pale blue. The blue for returning lead sponsor, Mild Seven, except at the 2002 British Grand Prix, British and 2002 French Grand Prix, French Grands Prix. In countries where advertising of tobacco products was not allowed, the Mild Seven text was replaced with "Blue World". The chassis was designed by Mike Gascoyne with support from Bob Bell, Tim Densham, John Iley and Pat Symonds. The R202 was an aerodynamic development of the 2001 car, building on the gains made from their extensive wind tunnel testing. The R202 featured Renault's Renault RS engine, RS22 V10 engine, featuring a unique 112° degree cylinder bank angle featuring a lower centre of gravity than any other F1 engine at the time. The RS22 engine powering the R202 had an output of 825 hp at 17,500rpm. The R202 utilised Michelin tyres, an agreement reached prior to the French companies return to F1 in 2001. The R202 was formally tested ahead of the Australian Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone by race team drivers Trulli and Button. Chassis 1, 2 and 3 were all utilised ahead of the first race. Reserve driver, Fernando Alonso continued testing parts for the R202 at Silverstone into March. The season started poorly for Renault in 2002 Australian Grand Prix, Australia. Both Button and Trulli were eliminated due to collisions, and by Lap 9 had no runners in the field. Trulli retired from the next two Grand Prix, whilst Button finished in fourth place in both Grand Prix, scoring valuable points, and again in San Marino achieving fifth place. At the 2002 Spanish Grand Prix, Spanish round, both Button and Trulli retired from the race but were classified due to completing more than 90% of race distance. Button was heading for a career first podium finish. A further retirement in 2002 Austrian Grand Prix, Austria meant that Trulli had only crossed the finish line in one Grand Prix driving the R202. At 2002 Monaco Grand Prix, Monaco, Trulli's fortunes turned and the R202 scored a fourth-place finish, and at the next race in 2002 Canadian Grand Prix, Canada scoring a point for sixth place. However, he would retire from a further five Grand Prix driving the R202 including Renault's home race at 2002 French Grand Prix, France where Button secured a point for finishing in sixth. Trulli and Button took the R202 to its only double points finish at the 2002 Italian Grand Prix in Monza Circuit, Monza despite both having qualified outside the top ten/ Despite the reliability challenges, the R202 took Renault to fourth place in the World Constructors Championship standings at the end of the season with 23 points. Button scoring 14, and Trulli 9 the pair finishing seventh and eighth in the drivers standings. The R202 would be Button's final season driving for Renault in his Formula One career. He departed for British American Racing.Complete Formula One results
(:Template:F1 driver results legend 2, key) (Results in bold indicate pole position; results in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap)References
{{F1 cars 2002 Renault Formula One cars, R202 2002 Formula One season cars