[4] Nick Chester admitted that preparations for 2016 were limited by financial difficulty within the Lotus team.

They also had a contract to use Mercedes engines for the new season, which meant a significant amount of the car that had been designed needed to be modified to fit the Renault power unit.

Many of the early modifications seen in testing were made due to FIA mandated requirements, such as the higher cockpit sides.

[7] Upon the start of the season, the FIA confirmed Renault had only used 7 of the available 32 tokens for engine development, leaving scope to progress.

In Bahrain, Palmer was unable to start the Grand Prix as his car failed during the formation lap.

Meanwhile, his team mate Palmer chalked up another four retirements before the end of the season in Canada, Britain, Singapore and Brazil.

[15][16] Scoring just 8 points during the season, it represented the team's worst performance since 2014, and for Renault as a constructor since 1978.