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Preparing the 3D model
Half the displacement, a new direction
The regulations matched three-litre naturally aspirated engines against supercharged units of only 1.5 litres. Renault chose the neglected route: a 90-degree V6 fed by a single turbocharger. The package produced formidable power but also heat, delay in throttle response and repeated failures. Working through those problems established the knowledge that would make turbo engines the dominant Formula 1 technology of the following decade.
The Yellow Teapot that started a revolution
Jean-Pierre Jabouille debuted the RS01 at Silverstone in 1977. Its frequent clouds of smoke inspired the mocking nickname “Yellow Teapot”, yet Renault kept developing it. The car scored its first points with fourth place at Watkins Glen in 1978; its successor then delivered the first turbo victory at Dijon in 1979. The RS01's real result was proving that the concept belonged in Formula 1.
The interactive model is the official public viewer commissioned for The Originals Renault Museum and remains hosted by its publisher. It is not redistributed by Race Archive. Hero photograph by Louis Rix, CC BY 2.0. Renault, Elf, Michelin and the displayed marks belong to their respective owners.