REPORT: Renault board considering following Toyota out of F1
Things have never been this bad for the Renault F1 team. Their performance is light-years behind where it used to be, their star driver is bolting once again, their top management has been thrown out of the sport in disgrace, and its biggest sponsors are leaving en masse. And now, following months if not years of speculation, the French automaker could be preparing to cut its losses and shut down its racing team altogether.
Reports indicate that Renault's board of directors is currently weighing its options, with possibilities including maintaining its full participation in the series, reverting to acting as an engine supplier for other teams (like Red Bull), or following Toyota and BMW out of the sport before next season. However reports that the FIA is considering taking legal action against Toyota for breach of contract which locked the company into the series through 2012 could make the decision a little more difficult.
The anticipation must be especially gut-wrenching for Robert Kubica, who just signed with Renault for next season after BMW Sauber exited the series. One way or another, the company is expected to announce its decision in the coming days.
[Source: Autocar | Image: Jasper Juinen/Getty]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Xa 7:04PM (11/04/2009)
ugh. it's like late 90's sportscars all over again.
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zamafir 7:12PM (11/04/2009)
I can't say im surprised. I love F1, love how ridiculously skilled the drivers are, but hate the drama and the whole funneling of cash to ecclestone. It's no longer about real race to production sorts of innovation and a whole lot of drama. Le Mans, Super GT, and a variety of other venues seem to really have kept the spirit of racing and innovation with a more general set of standards alive.
It just seems like F1 is dying slowly because it's a lot less relevant and a lot more costly than other opportunities out there.
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CrashDummy11 7:23PM (11/04/2009)
Whats going on? Honda, Toyota, BMW and Renault! I like that not all of the teams were car-company teams (like RedBull) but F1 needs them as the manufacturer backbone.
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AZZO45b 9:59PM (11/04/2009)
Red Bull uses Renault engines... so a pull out would effect them. However I believe Renault will stay & even if they pullout as a TEAM... they stay as an engine supplier
Rambling Man 7:27PM (11/04/2009)
Penske just cut their sports car operations and was planning on fielding three Indy cars next season. With all the money they're saving by not buying Saturn I wonder if they could afford to buy either Toyota's or Renault's F1 team. Hmmm...
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Carlo_Carrera 7:47PM (11/04/2009)
Your idea sounds good but Saturn would have been a money maker, an F1 team is a money pit.
I think Renault will stay.
AZZO45b 10:03PM (11/04/2009)
Penske was in Grand Am due to Porsche $$$. DHL left the US market so it was cheaper to drop ALMS & send Penske DP racing. They honored their contract.
Unless Penske has a huge a$$ sponsor / partner.... he would NEVER enter F1.
Ben Roethig 8:00PM (11/04/2009)
At the rate they're jumping ship, it might be a Ferrari spec series soon.
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AZZO45b 10:07PM (11/04/2009)
Mercedes powered cars (Brawn, McLaren, & Force India) & the batch of newbies from Cosworth might disagree with you on that.
Besides the Ferrari powered spec series (A1GP) went bust this year!!!
Tom Winch 8:18PM (11/04/2009)
Now that Toyota, and now possibly Renault, are dropping out, it's a certainty that the Sauber (former BMW) team now has a place on the grid. Maybe Kubica and Heidfeld will stay with the same team after all.
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AZZO45b 10:04PM (11/04/2009)
Kubica has already SIGNED with Renault for 2010.
Tom Winch 10:12PM (11/04/2009)
Yeah, everyone knows that, but that contract will be worthless if Renault drops out, meaning he could wind up driving for his old team.
AZZO45b 10:26PM (11/04/2009)
If Renault is leaving F1 to SAVE $$$$$$$ then paying a few extra million to a driver that does NOT drive a Renault makes no sense.
Renault was in no hurry to sign drivers IF they were pulling out. Toyota stalled their current pilots. McLaren is stalling Kimi.
Red Bull can't get Mercedes engines & are rumored to be resigning with Renault. Renault has been an engine supplier before... this is also not a complete pullout like BMW, Honda, & Toyota. We will see soon enough
Heysus 8:54PM (11/04/2009)
i love formula one but part of me wants formula to end only so ecclestone can f***king die and then it should come back... you know, after he's dead.
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slicecom 10:19PM (11/04/2009)
My sentiments exactly.
hashiryu 11:01PM (11/04/2009)
ditto.
John H. 8:58PM (11/04/2009)
I'm sure Renault and Toyota can find a breach from F1 to get them out.
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MikeInNC 8:28AM (11/05/2009)
Given that it's unlikely that USF1 will use American drivers next year, I'd love to see Kubica in one of those seats. The guy's got skills and I can't imagine him w/o a ride next year.
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AZZO45b 9:38AM (11/05/2009)
Kubica has signed with Renault & this officially kills your USF1/ Kubica dreams:
http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-renault-will-race-in-2010/