FEBRUARY 1, 2005

Renault launches in Monaco

Renault went to Monte Carlo to launch its R25 car, to avoid France's restrictive tobacco advertising laws. The team remains sponsored by Mild Seven but it remains to be seen what will happen when the new European anti-tobacco legislation comes into force at the end of July.

This is an important year for Renault with a new chairman taking over the company and there is pressure for the team to perform better than it has in previous years.

"This year it is necessary that we win races with an 's'," said Renault F1 chairman Patrick Faure. " We want to be one of the two or three teams fighting for the World Championship. That is the target we have set for ourselves."

That is not going to be easy given the challenge will come from Ferrari, BMW Williams, McLaren, BAR-Honda and possibly even Toyota as well.

The RS25 is a development of the existing car in line with the new regulations with no major new sponsorship.