A revolution

Kyalami 1979. René Arnoux and Jean-Pierre Jabouille (who captured pole) are pictured next to the Renault RS 01, introduced in 1977, that was the first Formula One car to be powered by a turbocharged engine.

Designed by André de Cortanze and Jean-Pierre Jabouille, it first appeared at the 1977 British Grand Prix. The rules of F1 permitted 3.0 litre engine with natural aspiration, with a clause for a 1.5 liter turbocharged engine also being allowed.

None of the teams had pursued this avenue, but the French manufacturer decided to develop a 1.5 litre turbocharged engine, and a car to accompany the power plant and revolutionised Formula 1. Soon all the teams realised they needed a turbo engine if they wanted to have a chance of winning.

Picture below: Jabouille in the yellow Renault RS01 leads the Ferraris 312T4 of Jody Scheckter and Gilles Villeneuve, at the start of the 1979 South-African Grand Prix at Kyalami.