F1: Ex-Caterham team boss Abiteboul back at Renault after reshuffle

Former Caterham Formula 1 team boss Cyril Abiteboul is returning to Renault as the French manufacturer attempts to turn its F1 engine program around.

Renault has also announced that Jean-Michel Jalinier, president and managing director of its sporting division, is retiring and will be replaced by Jerome Stoll, who will add the role to his position as chief performance officer and group sales and marketing director.

Abiteboul worked for Renault from 2001-'12, holding senior roles in its F1 arm from '07 onward. He moved from his role as Renault F1's executive director to Caterham in September 2012 to become the Renault-powered team's managing director.

Abiteboul's return to Renault follows Wednesday's news that Tony Fernandes has sold Caterham to a group of investors advised by Colin Kolles. Ex-F1 driver Christijan Albers is taking over the running of Caterham as part of that deal.

Renault has been under pressure to improve its F1 performance in recent months after Mercedes' dominant start to the 2014 season. Christian Horner, head of Renault's factory F1 team Red Bull, recently called the French firm's state of competitiveness and reliability "unacceptable."