Renault joins Ferrari with threats to leave Formula 1
Renault R29 F1 – Click above for a high-res image galleryAfter hinting at its displeasure, Renault has joined the the threats made by other manufacturer-supported teams (Ferrari chief among them) that they'll quit F1 if the FIA doesn't change its proposed rules for next season. The motorsport governing body put forward a new set of regulations that would effectively create a two-tier system in Formula One, forcing teams to choose between severely capped budgets or even further restricted parameters for building and fielding their cars in the series.
Like the other corporate teams, Renault can afford to sit out the season, objecting that the teams' voices have fallen on deaf ears and that the FIA is governing unilaterally, putting the onus on Max Mosley to rethink his strategy or else watch all the major teams march out. With the deadline for registration rapidly approaching, the controversial FIA chief is set to meet with the Formula One Teams Association sometime this week to see if they can iron out a deal, so stay tuned, or follow the jump to read Renault's statement in full.
Gallery: 2009 Renault R29 F1
[Source: Renault]
Renault and ING Renault F1 Team Statement
The decision of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) to introduce two sets of Formula One technical regulations for the 2010 Formula One season has caused the Renault Group to reconsider its entry in next year's FIA Formula One World Championship.
There is frustration that FOTA's constructive proposals, including major cost saving measures to be adopted progressively between 2009 and 2012, which were carefully constructed by FOTA members, have been completely ignored without any form of consultation by the FIA with the teams.
It should be stressed that FOTA has set the same, if not lower, financial objective as the FIA, but Renault strongly believes that this must be introduced through a different procedure agreed by all parties.
Renault also believes that it is paramount that the governance of the sport is coordinated with a spirit of consultation with all parties (FIA, FOM, FOTA) in order to achieve a better balance between the costs and the revenues. Renault is also of the firm view that all entrants in the World Championship must adhere to and operate under the same regulations.
President of the ING Renault F1 Team, Bernard Rey, commented: "Renault has always considered Formula One as the pinnacle of motor sport and the perfect stage to demonstrate technical excellence. We remain committed to the sport, however we cannot be involved in a championship operating with different sets of rules, and if such rules are put into effect, we will be forced to pull out from next season."
ING Renault F1 Team Managing Director, Flavio Briatore, commented: "Our aim is to reduce costs while maintaining the high standards that make Formula One one of the most prestigious brands on the market. We want to achieve this in a coordinated manner with the regulatory and commercial bodies, and we refuse to accept unilateral governance handed out by the FIA. If the decisions announced by the World Council on the 29th of April 2009 are not revised, we have no choice but to withdraw from the FIA Formula One World Championship at the end of 2009."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ack154 2:33PM (5/13/2009)
I kind of want the rules to stay as they are... just to see if all these teams make good on their threats.
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James 4:25PM (5/13/2009)
One year of this farce ought to be enough to kick Max out of the sport for good, so --yes-- let's keep the new rules in place.
larry a 2:39AM (5/14/2009)
I agree, but it would be better if they all kept their mouths shut so when it comes time to race next season.. Surprise! nobody is on the grid!
Tom Winch 1:58AM (5/15/2009)
@larry a - It won't be a surprise next year because the teams have to register for next season by the end of this month (29 May, I think).
Flea 2:44PM (5/13/2009)
This isn't surprising at all.
The new rules have put the teams who gave up mid-season last year on top, while relegating those who fought most till the end to the bottom of the grid.
By what principle of fair sport is this a good thing?
The whole point of the new rules was to have everyone fight for the championship, while right now a single team is dominating about as much as Ferrari did in the early 2000's. Mosley&Co actually brought F1 backwards not just technologically, but also on entertainment value.
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g 4:42PM (5/13/2009)
just to be clear, this protest is about next year's rules, not this year's.
Flea 6:10PM (5/13/2009)
I know, I was pointing out how the same thing is going to happen next year:
the teams that pull the plug first on this year's car will be the most advantaged next year because of the extra R&D time spent developing a new car with next year's rules in mind.
also, let's say I wanted to cheat: I secretly start developing a capped-budget car (I obviously own a private test track and wind tunnel, and with the excuse of developing road cars I test F1 equipment).
Without proper control from the FIA since they are so busy dealing with this season's shenanigans, I do all the trial-and-error R&D I need to do during spring and summer, spending over 100 million $. Then autumn comes, and I announce I have just started developing my new car. With a "miraculous streak of luck", all the aero bits, the electronics, the engines etcetera work just like they're supposed to the "first time" I develop and implement them, which of course leads to huge money savings once the FIA is actually paying attention to how much you're spending. You can see where I'm going by now...
Tom Winch 2:05AM (5/15/2009)
It's always been that way in F1 to a certain extent. Once it's mathematically impossible to win the championship in the current season, there's no incentive to continue developing your current car. It makes more sense to invest the time and money into developing next year's car. The teams in contention for the current championship have to live in the here and now and continue to develop the current car. That's the way is, the way it has been, and the way it will be. I guarantee you that McLaren & Ferrari will be developing their next year's car soon if a new rules deal gets worked out and they decide to race next year.
HotRodzNKustoms 2:47PM (5/13/2009)
Effectively this two tier system creates to separate classes or formulas. It does not make any sense to me.
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Weaksauce 3:20PM (5/13/2009)
Agreed. I'll wach the circuis that is LeMans if I want to see multiple types or classes of cars racing at the same time. Senna, Hamilton, Vettel are and will be fascinating in F1, but their achievements will be tainted if half of the teams race with kid gloves.
Reminds me of Bad Santa, when Billy Bob said he felt good after he beat up the 10 year old bullies to save the fat kid.
Way to go, Max.
pmiddle5 5:10AM (5/14/2009)
the goal is to force everyone to take the budget cap by making those cars faster and cheaper. There is no real goal for their to be two different styles of cars running. Its just to give the whiners an option.
What the hell is the point of less revs, less power boost, and more restricted aero dynamics for more money?
Jens 4:31PM (5/13/2009)
the two tier system is crazy. great for "capped" teams but makes little sense for factory teams to continue development of their own engines and having to fall under more restrictive technical rules. I can see the reason behind the strong reactions. Also having a seemingly legitimate excuse to leave F1 in hand, and abandon the sport on high moral grounds rather than not having enough money is probably a good thing considering the current economics.
As for the Renault threat to leave the sport... that rings a little hollow. Flavio Briatore is an attention hound with a loud mouth full of hot air. They have been on the verge of pulling out anyway since last year. Renault has wavered in and out of F1 in the past, and no doubt will do so in the future
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hyundaifans.com 4:31PM (5/13/2009)
I was wondering what took Flavio this long to officially object.
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Aloysius Vampa 5:17PM (5/13/2009)
The real way, of course, of cutting costs is to stop changing the regulations. Costs can't be lowered when designing new engines.
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pmiddle5 5:11AM (5/14/2009)
Thats what was always funny about the switch to v8's from v10's to "save money".
Jakub 6:09PM (5/13/2009)
Kinda off topic, but wow, that picture made me realize how narrow the new F1 cars are, the tires are almost as wide!!!
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pmiddle5 5:12AM (5/14/2009)
Been that wide (or narrow) for over a decade now =(
I MISS THE WIDE CARS!
Atleast slicks are back!
Banan 3:23PM (5/14/2009)
let the best win, no matter what the rules are!
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