Renault to stay in F1
November 5, 2009 by Negative Camber
Filed under Prime & Option, Top Story
Renault’s managing director Jean-François Caubet insists the the can maker is fit to stay in F1 for 2010.
“We have already contracted our drivers, had our budget approved and are enrolled in the world championship,” Caubet told daily sports newspaper L’Équipe. “Season 2010 has begun already. We will not be world champions in 2010, but we do have hopes to be much improved.”
While this is certainly the decision many in F1 want to hear, there is no official statement from the team as of yet. It seems logical that Renault would discuss their future in F1 as their results have been very dismal and the 2008 Singapore race-fix incident cost them dearly.
Toyota’s announcement of their departure from F1 effective immediately may have give board members cold feet and the perfect timing to bow out. If Caubet is speaking on behalf of the company, then perhaps we will see another year for Renault–a growing year no doubt as the team has lost their upper management, engineer and star driver.
It could be argued that Renault’s position is tenuous regardless of their 2010 commitment. Some, in the media, have suggested that perhaps a 2010 commitment would be swiftly followed by an exodus in 2011 and that the manufacture would only remain as an engine supplier.
Supplying engines is also part of what the team will do in 2010 as well as Red Bull announced their intention to remain with the French engine maker. Renault has also signed highly rated Robert Kubica as their lead driver for 2010 and one could assume that it is more than a one year contract.
Toyota has left question marks, namely at the FIA and FOM HQ’s, regarding the legal actions that could be leveraged against them by their departure from F1. Toyota, like Renault, signed the Concorde Agreement extension which placed strict penalties on teams that left before the end of the 2012 season.
While the FIA has been rattling sabers the last 24 hours regarding possible law suits, it has to be something Renault considered when discussing their options. Last summer the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) placed a $50m fine on any team leaving the organization prematurely after Williams bailed out on the group to side with the FIA’s application process.
If one extrapolates this line of thinking, you could safely make a blind leap to a similar fee for breaking the FIA’s Concorde Agreement. A fan could also presume that Renault’s mission in F1 has historic precedent and prestige where Toyota’s was perhaps narrowly focused on Honda’s involvement.
We will all keep a close eye on the proceedings but perhaps today we can collectively breathe a partial sigh of relief until the official word is given.
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Did anyone notice he said we have contracted our DRIVERS? Have the already filled seat #2?
Lucas S.
Yes I think they have Timo Glock ready to fill in for Romain. Its gonna be official in a few days. but how long before they too plan to quit. Is it really so hard to carry on as full team for any Auto giant except ferrari?
I think a lot of other automotive companies have established brand equity in more ways than just racing in F1. F1 is not necessary to maintain their image like it is for Ferrari has made it for them.
If Ferrari ends up racing a bunch of privateer teams, will there still be value in racing the series for them?
yes. no question about it.
but I want f1 to move away from the manufacturer-built chassis (engine ok). I want small car companies to come in, like Koenningseggggggggg, Zonda, Lambo, Aston. Under the right conditions, I don’t see why they cant come into the sport.
For Ferrari ,formula one is the home because they started racing first and then they made cars, there have been other companies like that but to make a conclusion on Ferrari’s part is very hard. Of course companies know that they can not post losses and continue racing in F1 like it is the best showcase for them, Spykar still sell their cars. But don`t you think that there is still something left in F1 that attracts them the most. Yamashima would not have cried otherwise.
I would agree that it is definitely more than just selling cars.
The thing that annoys me about Toyota is that for all the racing they do they just don’t make cool cars anymore. They used to have awesome cars when they were rally inspired. The 4AGE engine series had some crackers; imagine in early 90s they were getting 100kW out of 1.6L, there was a 120kW 20v version plus supercharged ones. Nowadays to get a Toyota now which is not just soft and boring you need to buy a Lotus.
Lexus make some interesting cars but I can’t afford one. Surely one of the cool things about Toyota being in F1 should have been that the average pleb could have afforded something with F1 DNA.
I’m pretty sure Toyota were in it because of Honda and they’re leaving because of Honda. I am sorry they quit because the more the merrier, but at least now they can drop all sporting pretense and just become the leaders in KERS, I mean Hybrid technology. Maybe the fact that they never had KERS on the race car shows they weren’t actually in it just to sell cars and were serious about racing.
I’ll believe that Renault is going to stay in F1 when they introduce the new cars for 2010