The Renault Formula 1 team has announced that Frederic Vasseur has left his role as team principal with immediate effect.
Vasseur, who was previously head of junior formula team ART, joined Renault at the start of the 2016 season as the Enstone-based outfit began a major restructuring.
Renault returned to F1 as a manufacturer outfit last year, but while things were tough on the track, Vasseur worked with Renault F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul to implement major changes and recruit new staff.
Vasseur was made team principal mid-way through the season, but has now left the role by “mutual consent”.
It comes just a few months ahead of the 2017 F1 season kicking off in Melbourne. Abiteboul and the team’s president, Jerome Stroll, will continue to lead the team.
The statement from Renault said: “After a first season spent relaunching and rebuilding its Formula 1 team, Renault Sport Racing and Frederic Vasseur have agreed by mutual consent to part company, effective as of today.
“Both parties remain committed to maintaining the good working relationship they have enjoyed and expect this to take a new form sometime in the future.
“The outlook of Renault's second season back in Formula 1, as well as the resources implemented to meet them, will be set out in detail at the presentation of the team's new race car.
“The Renault Sport Racing and the Formula 1 team continue to be managed by Jérôme Stoll, its president, and Cyril Abiteboul, its managing director.”
