Renault has confirmed that new technical director Pat Fry will join the Formula 1 team next week, ahead of the start of pre-season testing.
Renault revealed last November that it had secured the services of Fry, 55, but had not set a start date for his appointment, with the Briton having been placed on gardening leave by McLaren.
On Monday Renault confirmed that Fry will take up his new position as Technical Director (Chassis) on February 5, and will be present for its 2020 team launch the following week.
Renault recruited Fry as its new technical chief in the wake of a disappointing 2019 campaign, in which its progress stalled, and it slipped to fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship.
Renault parted company with long-term technical director Nick Chester while Dirk de Beer was recruited to replace Peter Machin as Head of Aerodynamics.
Fry previously worked at Enstone, under its Benetton guise, in the late 1980s/early 1990s, prior to a lengthy spell at McLaren, which led to a senior position at Ferrari in the early 2010s.
But after Ferrari’s disappointing 2014 campaign Fry was let go and he returned to Formula 1 with Manor in 2016, before re-joining McLaren while it awaited the arrival of James Key.