Renault withdraws from F1?

[Chewie]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsp ... 343221.stm

I just really hope they still supply engines, just to give some variety!

What must Kubica be thinkng?

[shinji]

What a day! The sport is practically falling down around us!

Everybody run to the hills and never come back!

[Enrique Bernoldi]

I feel so gutted for Robert right now. He's a quality driver and if indeed Renault do decide to pull out, I really hope he manages to find a seat somewhere else (Possibly McLaren? Even though they're pretty keen on Raikonnen).

But here's to hoping that Renault manage to stay for 2010.

[Nuppiz]

What a day! The sport is practically falling down around us!

Everybody run to the hills and never come back!

I'm already living on a kind of a hill, so I can't run to one!

Back to topic, it seems that the manufacturers have finally noticed that results don't come from money alone. Also, I'm a bit delighted if I am to see more privateer teams in the sport, like it was back in '98 when I started to follow this sport (Tyrrell, Arrows, Minardi, Stewart, Sauber, Jordan, Prost, even Williams and Benetton to some extent... practically almost the whole field were privateer teams apart from Ferrari and McLaren!). The sport just feels... different with teams whose names aren't familiar from the next parking lot! Although the sad thing is that nowadays F1 teams are, more often than not, controlled by suitmen who care more for the money than the sport itself.

But who would replace Renault? Qadbak has probably confirmed its seat with Toyota's departure already. Prodrive, Epsilon Euskadi?

[shinji]

What a day! The sport is practically falling down around us!

Everybody run to the hills and never come back!

I'm already living on a kind of a hill, so I can't run to one!

Back to topic, it seems that the manufacturers have finally noticed that results don't come from money alone. Also, I'm a bit delighted if I am to see more privateer teams in the sport, like it was back in '98 when I started to follow this sport (Tyrrell, Arrows, Minardi, Stewart, Sauber, Jordan, Prost, even Williams and Benetton to some extent... practically almost the whole field were privateer teams apart from Ferrari and McLaren!). The sport just feels... different with teams whose names aren't familiar from the next parking lot! Although the sad thing is that nowadays F1 teams are, more often than not, controlled by suitmen who care more for the money than the sport itself.

But who would replace Renault? Qadbak has probably confirmed its seat with Toyota's departure already. Prodrive, Epsilon Euskadi?

Zoran Stefanovich, your time has come.

I really need to stop referencing him. I just love him, I'm sorry.

[Chewie]

But who would replace Renault? Qadbak has probably confirmed its seat with Toyota's departure already. Prodrive, Epsilon Euskadi?

Is it 13 or 14 teams?

I make it

1. Brawn
2. Red Bull
3. McLaren
4. Ferrari
5. Williams
6. Torro Rosso
7. Force India
8. Manor Virgin
9. Lotus
10. Qadbak Sauber
11. USF1
12. Campos
13. ?

14. ??

We might just have the same number of cars as this year!

My preference would obviously be ProDrive Aston Martin for the final spot.

[CarlosFerreira]

We might just have the same number of cars as this year!

The way things are going, that may be optimistic. Sorry, it's all falling apart, as shinji says. It looks like Max was right, but nobody was listening.

[DemocalypseNow]

F1 is slowly collapsing within itself. No tyres, 3 manufacturers (possibly) gone, whats going next? At this rate all the Formula Rejects teams are going to have to come along and replace all of the 14 teams that eventually pulled out by December...

[Chewie]

We might just have the same number of cars as this year!

The way things are going, that may be optimistic. Sorry, it's all falling apart, as shinji says. It looks like Max was right, but nobody was listening.

that's the problem when you have zero credibility; your one great idea falls on deaf ears! Your sig is so prophetic!

[rffp]

I have just read in a Brazilian newspaper quoting L'Équipe that Renault is staying in F-1.
But then Toyota denied about 5 times in 2009 that they were withdrawing...

[DemocalypseNow]

Yeah, but notice how Toyota withdrew the day after an 'emergency board meeting' too, even though Carlos Ghosn (?) said after Singapore 2009 that Renault would stay. Its out of Renault F1's hands, just like the decision to disband Toyota Motorsport GmbH was made by the president of the entire company, not just the motorsport division...

[CarlosFerreira]

Yeah, but notice how Toyota withdrew the day after an 'emergency board meeting' too, even though Carlos Ghosn (?) said after Singapore 2009 that Renault would stay. Its out of Renault F1's hands, just like the decision to disband Toyota Motorsport GmbH was made by the president of the entire company, not just the motorsport division...

It's not just the one guy wanting to pull out... if there's, as the news says, a meeting but the F1 team won't be able to defend itself, that means someone else will be doing the talking. Who that may be is anyone's guess - but I'm willing to bet 90% of shareholders prefer bigger dividends at the end of the year than another crashgate.

Renault F1 is Briatore land, there's no Renault man inside. That is not attractive for shareholders.

[Henrique]

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2009/11/04/renault-holds-emergency-meeting-about-f1-future/

[thehemogoblin]

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2009/11/04/renault-holds-emergency-meeting-about-f1-future/

Read as: "Ghosn tells Bell 'You're bathplugged!' "

[Phoenix]

Well, perhaps the situation won't be as serious...These are just cycles...just like the competitiveness of big teams..3 or 4 years and there will be a healthy proportion of manufacturers again.

[lostpin]

Privateers!! This is the dawn of your new era, hihi..

[Thunderer]

Here's a thought, if Renault were to also withdraw as an engine supplier, could we see the return of Mechachrome?

Although the same engine, no chance of seeing Supertecs back as that company is owned by Briatore.

[DemocalypseNow]

Robert Kubica's manager is in talks with McLaren. An ominous sign perhaps?

[CarlosFerreira]

Robert Kubica's manager is in talks with McLaren. An ominous sign perhaps?

Yesterday evening I'd have laughed at you saying that. Now, I get this chill...

[noisebox]

I would've thought that a Brawn style buy out would be possible for Renault. Step forward Mr Briatore...

[DemocalypseNow]

How about another comeback by Alain Prost. He did it as a driver, so why not as a team owner?

[Fitch]

IF Renault Leave...The FIA will be seeing a Windfall of Cash..as Yota AND Renault have both signed the Concorde Agreement.......and Based on the Press Release they Issued concerning Bridgestone and Toyota in which the part concerning Toyota basically said, "SEE, We told you we needed to Cut Costs but you all said NO, now look, we've lost 2 teams this year, because of Money Issues!!"

So, I forsee Toyota getting the shite Sued out of them for breach of Contract......and if Renault follow suit, they will as well......

[Captain Hammer]

He did it as a driver, so why not as a team owner?

Great idea!

Why didn't he think of that before?

[cjrodwell]

At least Renault have had some success this year as a engine supplier unlike Toyota, from their corporate point of view why spend millions on a team that let’s face it just isn't going to win when you can still take the glory and kudos of wins as a successful engine supplier for a fraction of the cost. Although Red Bull did bitch about them rather frequently but they still did the business for them.

It also must have been rather embarrassing for their own team to be whooped so convincingly by Red Bull this year despite them having one of the best drivers on the grid in Alonso, besides who on earth is going to think "ooooh Renault F1 came 8th in the 2009 season that makes me want to buy Clio so I can bask in the glory of that stunning 8th place(out of 10) by association" which is surely what the head honchos of Renault are after.

[Jordan192]

But then Toyota denied about 5 times in 2009 that they were withdrawing...

John Howett repeatedly denied toyota were withdrawing, unfortunately overlooking the fact that he had zero influnece over whether they would or not.

[Phoenix]

Here's a thought, if Renault were to also withdraw as an engine supplier, could we see the return of Mechachrome?

Or Playlife! with its half-flipped logo

[Debaser]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80031

They've delayed the decision, which leaves the whole team in the lurch if they pull out. Not sure what to make of this, but this isn't positive news for sure.

[noisebox]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80031

They've delayed the decision, which leaves the whole team in the lurch if they pull out. Not sure what to make of this, but this isn't positive news for sure.

I think they are probably trying to sell the team in the background and continue as an engine supplier.

[CarlosFerreira]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80031

They've delayed the decision, which leaves the whole team in the lurch if they pull out. Not sure what to make of this, but this isn't positive news for sure.

Two ideas:

a) they're definitely pulling out as a manufacturer. If they were to say, they'd have said so. The issue here might be timing - the Leaf is presented today or tomorrow, Renault is putting a lot of weight into it, and doesn't want unsavoury questions in the presentation.

b) they're not pulling out, but have decided to hold everyone hostage. Renault, a partly state-owned French company, wants to see how pliable the new, French-led FIA is. They'll try to push technical rules that could make them more competitive and in-line with the electric car policy they are pursuing for road cars (such as more KERS power and abolishing of double-D diffusers), or muddle about the money distributions from TV rights and so on. This is pretty much an invitation for all readers to stand up.

[Henrique]

Will they be working on a chassis for next year until the decision is made?

[Thunderer]

Here's a thought, if Renault were to also withdraw as an engine supplier, could we see the return of Mechachrome?

Or Playlife! with its half-flipped logo

Now that would be amusing, however the only way you'll see Playlife return is if Benetton buy their team back.

[Phoenix]

Here's a thought, if Renault were to also withdraw as an engine supplier, could we see the return of Mechachrome?

Or Playlife! with its half-flipped logo

Now that would be amusing, however the only way you'll see Playlife return is if Benetton buy their team back.

I tihink it'd be better to rely in someone buying the team and calling it Toleman than in seeing Benetton buying the team back