As technical boss of the engine team that attends every test session, Matthieu is one of the men behind the scenes driving the success of the Renault F1 Team.
Two different things sparked the racing passion of this thirty year- old engineer in the late 1980s: a classic on-track duel, and a major technological leap. “The Prost-Senna battle was a great period for any motor racing fans,” smiles Matthieu Dubois. “Like everybody else who enjoyed F1 at that time, I would get up at four in the morning to follow the races from far away locations.” But the disappointment of seeing the two drivers’ world championship decider last only as far as the first corner in Japan, 1990, left him feeling cheated. “I was so disappointed I went straight back to bed!” he laughs now.
Unlike many young fans, though, it wasn’t the driving that enthralled Matthieu. Instead, he enjoyed what was happening beneath the bodywork. “The first semi-automatic gearbox introduced by Ferrari, with the gearshift on the steering wheel, really opened my eyes,” he explains. “The technological steps that followed also fascinated me: active suspension, the normally aspirated V10 with pneumatic valve timing, traction control…” From then on, this aviation enthusiast knew he was destined for motor sport – and from the age of 15, began tailoring his studies to hit this target. His parents didn’t necessarily understand his passion – but they let him continue. “Motor sport wasn’t really part of our life at home,” admits Matthieu. After studying at the Ecole Centrale de Nantes, he made the most of the institution’s close links with Viry-Châtillon to try his luck. Alumni from the school were already working in Renault’s F1 engine department – so Matthieu organised a meeting between his school and the F1 engineers. It was his first contact with the world that was destined to become his own.
It was only after ten applications that he passed his first interview – and got the job. He was recruited by Viry in 1998, just as the factory was being reorganised following Renault’s departure from F1 the previous year. However, they were still supplying engines – first via Mécachrome, then Supertec. “I worked as a dyno tester for two and a half years,” explains Matthieu. “I then became a race engineer with Benetton for two years.” At the end of 2001, Matthieu took charge of technical operations of the engine test team. It’s a key role, because these engineers are the people who have to approve performance and reliability developments before they are used at a race weekend.
Since then, he has seen the team make steady progress – and wouldn’t change his job for the world. “There’s a different atmosphere at Renault,” he says. “We work very hard, and see the results of it straight away. That’s good for your motivation! So much effort goes into winning races, that when we succeed, it really creates a strong bond. Everybody feels like they are playing a part. Viry has expanded a lot in recent years, but it has not caused problems. Most people are from the same generation, and they share the same values, the same references and interests.”
F1 is a greedy world – it eats up people’s free time without respite. But when he can get away, Matthieu spends his free time out on the water. “I love sailing,” he rounds off. “I try and go to regattas and sail with friends. Having fun is the main priority. But finishing first is a nice bonus too!"

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