Renault to decide on F1 future before end of the year

Will they stay or will they go ?

Only day after Bridgestone announced their future plans do not include F1 and on the same day Toyota ended their 8 year long winless F1 adventure the story is emerging that Renault may be the next one to quit. An emergency board meeting is on today in Paris. The French car company is to discuss its F1 future. The options for Renault are to stay on with their own team, to continue as an engine supplier only or to follow the examples of Honda, BMW nad Toyota and pull the plug on F1 programme completely.

Update:

On Thursday, Renault Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn said:

“You will have to be patient. We will make an announcement on our participation in Formula 1 before the end of the year.”

What must be going on in Robert Kubica’s head following his move from ex-BMW team to Renault …

Photo: Bridgestone Motorsport

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1. zblkhwk says:

   November 5, 2009 at 2:49 am

   Again, not a surprise that Renault is openly discussing a pull out.  Now we get to see if it is a ploy to gain more F1 funding or if they are serious.

   Toyota’s loss simply means that the new Sauber gets a place on the grid and one less engine supplier (although I don’t think any of the private teams were using Toyota Engines for 2010).  Renault pulling the plug drops the team count to 13 with yet another engine supplier gone.

   Reply
   • F1Wolf says:

     November 5, 2009 at 3:23 am

     Toyota’s loss simply means that the new Sauber gets a place on the grid

      

     I read somewhere last night that Toyota may actually want to sell their entry, not simply give it away. That may be the reason for FIA wanting to clarify Toyota’s legal position:

     Press Release
     Toyota And Bridgestone
     04/11/2009
     The announcements this week by Toyota and Bridgestone of their withdrawal from Formula One are of concern to the FIA.

     Bridgestone has given almost 18 months’ notice of its intentions, thereby allowing the necessary arrangements to be made for the future supply of tyres to the championship.

     Toyota’s decision, however, comes just weeks after its F1 team signed the new Concorde Agreement until 2012.

     Urgent clarification is now being sought from the Toyota F1 team as to its legal position in relation to the championship. This will have a direct bearing on the admission of any future 13th entry.

     The FIA has repeatedly warned that motor sport cannot outpace the world economic crisis. That is why the competing teams have been asked to cut costs and the entry of independent teams has been encouraged.

     The FIA accepted the cost-reduction measures put forward by the teams on the basis that they would ensure a long-term commitment to the championship. Toyota’s announcement demonstrates the importance of the original cost-reduction measures set out by the FIA.

     The FIA will now work to ensure that Toyota’s departure is managed in the best interests of the championship and will continue to encourage the F1 teams to undertake the necessary cost-cutting measures for the good of the sport.

     Reply