Bell steps down at Renault

Bob Bell has stepped down as Renault's chief technical officer for a part-time technical advisor, staying at Renault.

Bob Bell is no longer Renault's chief technical officer and instead will occupy the technical advisor role on a part-time basis.

Bell rejoined the French manufacturer towards the start of 2016, about ten years after he won the title with Renault as technical director.

The 60-year-old left Renault in 2010 and joined Mercedes as their technical director before a spell as consultant for Manor.

This means the full-time association Bell has had with Renault hasnow come to an end, having worked in roles such as deputy technical director, technical director, acting team principal, managing director and CTO.

Renault have confirmed Bell's new role and have said that he will be able to participate in "strategic projects to support the team's long-term growth and development" and that "he will take responsibility for developing technical collaborations with third parties to explore specific expertise and technologies that can contribute to the team's overall performance."

Cyril Abiteboul, Renault's boss, has heaped the praise on Bell's contribution to the French side.

"In just two and a half years he has helped to make Renault a genuine and respected points scorer," Abiteboul said on Renault's official website.

"He's also a massive part of the heart and soul of the team and a real motivator for everyone to draw together and get the best from themselves and each other.

"Under this planned transition within the team's executive management, Bob will now look closely at how to work with our partners but also the different stakeholders of Formula One, and of the Renault Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance, to ensure we continue to move even further up the grid."