Renault's 2016 car has become the latest to pass the mandatory FIA crash tests ahead of the new season.
Renault completed its takeover of Lotus last season, meaning it returns to the grid as the manufacturer for the first time since leaving at the end of 2010. It remains on track for the first test in Barcelona on February 22.
Tweeting from the Lotus account, which is yet to be updated to the Renault name or logo, it confirmed the new chassis had been successfully homologated.
Chassis homologation: DONE. That was a 'hole' lot of fun. (We know, we know. Stop it. It is a good one, isn't it?) pic.twitter.com/qsHiYvqwY9
— Lotus F1 Team (@Lotus_F1Team) January 20, 2016Earlier this week Renault released a teaser trailer called "Hear Us Coming", previewing their return to Formula One. At present the team's line-up is Jolyon Palmer and Pastor Maldonado, though there is uncertainty over the latter's future due to speculation of a late payment from sponsor PDVSA. The team is set to confirm its identity, management team and drivers at a media event in Paris on February 3.
Manor and Haas have both passed crash tests ahead of the new season.