Renault’s Bell looks to repeat Mercedes success

Bob Bell has set to work on turning the near-collapse of the Lotus team into a Mercedes-style success story.

With the new title of chief technical officer, the Irishman has arrived at Renault from Manor, but within memory of having led Mercedes’ now-dominant technical project.

He was also instrumental to the success of the last Renault works project a decade ago, but acknowledges that times have changed.

"At Mercedes, the task was similar to now" at Renault, Bell told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

"The essence of the team at Enstone still knows how to build good race cars," he added, "but we live in a different era to 2005.

"What is important now is to create the right foundation for long-term success. We’re not looking to the next race, but one and a half years ahead," said Bell.

The 57-year-old will be the intermediary between Renault’s two technical directors, Nick Chester (chassis) and Remi Taffin (engine).

"I will have more influence (than in the past) on engine development," Bell explained, "even if I am not an engine engineer. But both sides must be linked together.

"I have to make sure both sides are marching in the same direction, and that the resources are distributed correctly between them," he added.