After a disappointing start of their 2001 season, the Renault-owned Benetton team steadily progressed throughout the year to become a regular contender for the points in the final stages. Now that the French manufacturer has taken over from Benetton, the Renault squad are looking stronger and stronger. Graham Holliday analyzes how Renault have managed to move closer to the top

"I reckon a podium finish is a genuine target," said Renault's Jenson Button before he got into his car to go racing in Sepang two weeks ago. What a difference a year makes. As the engines died down in Malaysia and the dust began to settle on the face of the 2002 Formula One grid, commentators and spectators alike got their first real indication of where the different teams line up in the pecking order. And if the weekend at the Sepang Circuit is anything to go by, it looks like the top ten of the grid has a regular slot for an old friend: the vastly improved Renault team.

"If they (Renault) can make the same steps forward over the winter I think we'll be able to be qualifying in the top 10 at the start of the season and winning by Silverstone," said Jenson Button at Suzuka 2001.

Making bold predictions in Formula One is a tricky business at the best of times and for Button to make such claims at the end of the dreadful season he endured in 2001 doesn't make him the exception. But, come the second race of the season and the newly badged Renault team have already lived up to Button's words. Qualifying in eighth and finishing in fourth after just missing out on a podium when his front suspension broke. Button was left to crawl around on three wheels as his undercarriage dragged along the track for the last lap. Speaking to BBC Radio after the race Button said, "I did the rest of the lap practically on three wheels. I could feel the car was touching the ground."

Flavio Briatore has repeatedly stated that 2001 was a test year. Toyota spent their 'test' year travelling around the world's circuits putting in engine miles and gathering valuable data at private test sessions. Renault, on the other hand, were doing their growing up in public and on a very unforgiving stage.

So just what has helped spur the French team up the grid in 2002?

Renault's much talked about 'radical wide angle' engine was finally unleashed at the season closer in Suzuka 2001 after being de-tuned for much of the year. Critically, what Suzuka 2001 and Malaysia 2002 have shown the watching public, is that Renault learned from their mistakes and learned quickly. So much so that they are threatening to make budget busting teams Jaguar and BAR with their years of experience look embarrassingly off the Renault pace in what is effectively their first full year racing.

Then there's the rollercoaster ups and downs of Renault driver Jenson Button. Now in his third Formula One season, the hero to zero tag has been stuck upon his head more than once. But a new found confidence, a new manager, regained hunger for racing and winning and a serious wake-up call from Briatore at the end of last year has catapulted Jenson back from zero now heading resolutely in the direction of hero again after an assured display at Sepang. Renault is renowned for having one of the most punishing winter training schedules of any team in the paddock. The result being a fitter, leaner Button who is physically and mentally much more up for the fight than in the two previous seasons' outings. But, it's not only fitness that has helped Button.

"I really feel things are improving all the while with this team now. We are getting better engines and the car is improving," he said at Sepang.

Better engines, better technical support, better innovations. Where other teams, most notably Jaguar, stood still (or even slipped backwards) between Australia and Sepang, Renault shipped in an array of improvements worked on since the lottery-like race in Melbourne. As Technical Director Mike Gascoyne said, "For this race (Malaysia) we will have new aerodynamics and mechanical items, which will represent a good step forward... A new diffuser, a new rear wing and several new items on the rear suspension." Such prompt and ongoing factory support, even for the long haul races, will put the team in good stead for the rest of the season.

When asked last year what were the highlights of his season Button replied, "There haven't been many. (Maybe) Flying home." It isn't likely he'll be repeating those comments at the end of this year. If the young man from Frome can continue his current form his stock looks good for 2003 with either a continuation at Renault or a return to Williams. With the McLaren cars of David Coulthard and Kimi Raikkonen having a tendency to blow up so far this year, the Renault drivers' most immediate competition seems likely to come from the Sauber stable. Brazilian rookie Felipe Massa in particular could rise to the occasion and give the Renaults a run for their money on what is only his second full length Grand Prix and his first on home territory.

The real interest in Renault is likely to begin in April as the Formula One carnival pitches camp in Europe. Button is looking more assured to retain his seat if he so chooses, or if Frank Williams loans him out for a while longer. Jarno Trulli, on the other hand, needs to find a bit more luck to get his car to the finish. And if he can recapture those blistering qualifying times he was renowned for when racing at the Jordan team last year his seat will become more secure. Rumours that test driver and Briatore golden boy Fernando Alonso could step in to replace Trulli should he lag behind Button are a little too premature. But, Briatore has made it very clear that he wants to see Alonso with a Renault Grand Prix drive come 2003.

Rumours continue to churn about Jacques Villeneuve and his possible future relationship with Renault. The Malaysian Grand Prix did nothing to quell the rumours with BAR test driver Anthony Davidson very visibly waiting in the wings of the BAR garage and Villeneuve publicly stating, "If things do not get better this year I will move on to somewhere better. But of course I will have to look at what opportunities there are at the time." Don't let the threatening talk misguide you, Villeneuve's pay demands could put him out of reach of Renault.

BAR Engineering Director Malcolm Oastler and Chief Designer Andy Green followed ex BAR team boss and Villeneuve manager Craig Pollock out of the door last week. It's virtually guaranteed that new team boss David Richards will continue turning the screw on the BAR organisation and don't be too surprised if Villeneuve's management is frantically trying to sow up a deal with Renault before the Canadian is given the axe too.

Drivers may come and go, but one thing is becoming clear to all involved in Formula One. Renault are improving at a rate far exceeding that of BAR, Jaguar, Jordan or any of the other also-rans. If anybody is to jump ship anywhere this season, they would be well advised to hop aboard Renault. And with Peugeot threatening to return to Formula One with a full team, Renault will be very keen to make their mark as the premier French manufacturer in the world's premier motor sport sooner rather than later.

If Jenson Button can foresee the future as he did before he went racing in Malaysia two weeks ago then it might be worth remembering his final words as he left Suzuka in 2001 after that difficult second season in Formula One.

"I'll have a go at winning at Silverstone. Next season it's 100 percent Renault and everyone's going to know about it and be watching with open eyes. I think it's great." Roll on Silverstone.