Renault also considers F1 pullout

[Ardius]

It sure goes a long way to questioning why its such a bad idea for new teams though, especially when they are meant to be reducing costs to entice new teams and sponsors. Forcing new teams to invest in large manufacturing and development facilities just to satisfy the current teams that they can't be beaten doesn't sound like a genius idea to me.
I'm all against a spec-series, but at the same time I don't want to see F1 dominated by the same old teams and I think it would do well to lose its current image of ludicrous spending levels (which it seems to be doing fortunately).

Lets just hope Wirth's reliance on CFD pays off, because it would certainly help reduce those problems. I'm quite skeptic about its usefulness in the long term though, in the yearly development race it helps to have several different sources of test data because the problem with CFD and windtunnels is you only get out what you put in - you put crap data in, you get crap data out. As we have seen with Renault's windtunnel.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

It sure goes a long way to questioning why its such a bad idea for new teams though, especially when they are meant to be reducing costs to entice new teams and sponsors. Forcing new teams to invest in large manufacturing and development facilities just to satisfy the current teams that they can't be beaten doesn't sound like a genius idea to me.

If they can't afford to build their own car, what the hell are they doing in Formula One to begin with?

I'm all against a spec-series, but at the same time I don't want to see F1 dominated by the same old teams and I think it would do well to lose its current image of ludicrous spending levels (which it seems to be doing fortunately).

Ferrari and McLaren will almost always be at the top of the game. And it's looking increasingly likely that Red Bull and Mercedes wll be joining them there. And, of course, Williams are always biting at their heels and Renault want to return to their former glory.

I'd rather see teams build up to being competitive. Call me old-fashioned, but it just wouldn't be right if someone could throw a few million together, buy a McLaren chassis and be fighting for podiums and points when we've never heard of them before. It's the new team equivalent of a race in a far-flung locale that has no market, like the Uzbekistan Grand Prix. That's why I like Virgin so much: they're not aiming to do what BAR said they would (and failed miserably at, I hasten to add) and win their first race. They're looking to gain the respect of the other teams before they even start trying for points places.

To me, there's more value in a team like Red Bull entering and contesting for the lower places, then fighting into the points and going for outright victories. Force India did it too, with Fisichella's pole and podium in Spa, and then that great showing from Liuzzi in Monza until his gearbox gave up. Even Brawn did it under their guise as Honda, because the BGP-001 was developed as the Honda RA109. But to have a championship where a new team can be started, buy a chassis and be instantly competitive? No thanks. The only way I could see it working would be if the FIA somehow introduced an optional chassis for new teams: they could develop their own if they wanted to, or they could buy a pre-made one from someone like Lola. Of course, there would be a limit as to how long they could use it for before they had to start making their own cars, and they'd have to show evidence that they were working towards developing their own. But between contol tyres, the Cosworth engine and the rumour that suggets the FIA want a mandatory, standardised KERS unit for 2011 (the way it should have been introduced for 2009), an entry-level customer chassis would be too much like creating a spec series, even if the big kids get to play with their own toys.

 

[Ardius]

Did you just not read my words on reducing costs or not? I was saying to get more teams in, i.e. teams that wouldn't have been able to make it otherwise. Of course I would be suggesting teams that couldn't afford to make their own chassis should get in! Williams wouldn't exist if they hadn't used those March chassis initially.

I also don't believe someone buying a customer chassis is guaranteed success either. By your own admission, Toro Rosso weren't great because they had two rookies...but then again they did have Bourdais and Vettel last year

The Red Bull example is bad too, as it was just Jaguar. Really you should have said Stewart

You also just agreed to what I proposed before - allow a customer chassis intially and then when they had built up the funds and facilities force them to make their own. So really we're going in circles here.

So, to bring this back to the original point, Prodrive were perfectly within their rights to pursue a customer chassis when the FIA granted them the entry and always told them they could use it. McLaren and Mercedes agreed to let them and if I remember right, Richards said he intended to build up the facilities for his chassis later (like I'm suggesting).

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Finnish newspaper Tuorun Sanamat (sp?) claims Vitaly Petrov is "probably" going to be Renault's second driver.

No idea how reliable they are, but I am told they've picked up on three driver moves before anyone else this silly season, so you never know.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

And Petrov has confirmed he's talking with them.

I'd say his chances would actually be quite good. Renault had a shortlist of five drivers: Heidfeld, Sato, Villeneuve, d'Ambrosio and Tung, in that order. Of those five, only the first two were really rated as being primed for the seat. As you can see, Petrov's name doesn't appear anywhere. But now he's gotten Renault's attention just eleven days before the car - and the second driver - are to be unveiled. Whatever he's doing, he's doing it right.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Reports are emerging sugesting Vitaly Petrov visited Enstone for a seat fitting today.

 

[The Outlaw]

Nice...should be interesting to see how he fairs against Kubica this season 👍

A render of what the Renault R30 livery might look like

I think the Yellow and black scheme is pretty bad azz Hopefully they can be a lot more competitive than last year though

 

[Prince.M5]

Uuuuuh... That one looks bad ass!!! Now I have a feeling that next year will be one of the best season of F1. Me too, I do really hope they can get a turnaround this season. Time will tell I think Kubica and Petrov is a very good combi IMO.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

A render of what the Renault R30 livery might look like

That's just a less-involved variation of that ugly-as-sin 30th Anniversary livery.

If Petrov has indeed been signed, expect Sberbank/Gazprom or something similar for 2010. They might show up in Valencia and Jerez with an interim livery, though, because it takes time to paint the cars and get the decals ready.

 

[Hun200kmh]

That's just a less-involved variation of that ugly-as-sin 30th Anniversary livery.

If Petrov has indeed been signed, expect Sberbank/Gazprom or something similar for 2010. They might show up in Valencia and Jerez with an interim livery, though, because it takes time to paint the cars and get the decals ready.

Well, apparently Renault will be backed by Putin and sponsored by LADA

I guess One day I will see something I never imagined possible (during the Cold War years, I mean ... ): a LADA F1 Team!


Source: http://en.espnf1.com/renault/motorsport/story/9950.html

 

[SaberFire]

Are they replacing the Kevlar with bunker-grade steel and the carbon brake discs with weight saving aluminium?

 

[Roo]

Well, apparently Renault will be backed by Putin and sponsored by LADA

I guess One day I will see something I never imagined possible (during the Cold War years, I mean ... ): a LADA F1 Team!


Source: http://en.espnf1.com/renault/motorsport/story/9950.html

Petrov is also a former Lada champion - he won the Lada Revolution championship in 2005.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Well, apparently Renault will be backed by Putin and sponsored by LADA

I guess One day I will see something I never imagined possible (during the Cold War years, I mean ... ): a LADA F1 Team!


Source: http://en.espnf1.com/renault/motorsport/story/9950.html

That article is only quoting a Spanish news agency, and I'm kind of distrusting about anything coming out of Spain. That said, I don't think they'd be able to get away with putting words in Putin's mouth for long.

 

[yeti]

I saw a render on Autosport that had Lada written on it - will try to dig it out...

C.

EDIT :

Looks like it's from Renault's actual site based on the URL!?

 

[Ardius]

That article is only quoting a Spanish news agency, and I'm kind of distrusting about anything coming out of Spain. That said, I don't think they'd be able to get away with putting words in Putin's mouth for long.

Renault owns 25% of Lada, they have a Russian driver, as mentioned Petrov used to race Ladas too...I'm surprised you don't believe it for once, ludes. You're normally the one posting such rumours and explaining why they are likely.

 

[yeti]

Renault owns 25% of Lada

You know - I didn't know that.

C.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Renault owns 25% of Lada, they have a Russian driver, as mentioned Petrov used to race Ladas too...I'm surprised you don't believe it for once, ludes. You're normally the one posting such rumours and explaining why they are likely.

Oh, I was willing to believe it, largely because an ex-KGB agent who is the Prime Minister and the former President of the Russian Federation is not a man who you make stuff up about the way the Spanish media is known to. It was simply the presence of EFE that made me wary.

 

[yeti]

Time to not only believe...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8549995.stm

C.

 

[Ardius]

Renault's future in question again?
http://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2010/03/renault-on-the-rocks-again/

Only months after being purchased by Genii Capital, Renault is once again in trouble, TheCheckeredFlag has learned.

Details are scarce, but a senior figure within the team has said the team ‘may not last much longer’, possibly due to continuing financial issues.

Vitaly Petrov had helped bring Lada sponsorship to the team, whom Renault own a 25% stake in. The deal was announced by Vladimir Putin no less, with a whiff of PR stunt in the air, possibly an attempt to drum up interest from other prospective Russian investors.

Also at risk is Renault’s engine department in France, who also supply engines to front-runners Red Bull Racing.

Renault are still expected to race at the season opener at Bahrain next weekend, but beyond then it’s anyone’s guess what the future brings for the now estranged French squad.

No else has mentioned it yet, so I don't know how credible the source is.
It wouldn't be very surprising though, I mean, look at the current liveries and count the number of sponsors. Force India actually have one of the fullest liveries in terms of number of sponsors!
Not to mention how crazy the pre-season has been so far - this would pale in comparison to the mess we have just seen with the new teams!

 

[prisonermonkeys]

No else has mentioned it yet, so I don't know how credible the source is.

I doubt it, simply because no-one else has run the story. The article doesn't really quote anyone by name. The website's only claim to fame seems to be that they reported Renault as having signed Petrov four days before he was announced - but they never quoted anyone then, either. I don't think it's a very credible source, anyway. Joe Saward and Motorsport.com - my usual sites for picking up rumours and gossip and trash - haven't even bothered to mention it.

The Chequered Flag strikes me as being one of those "news" sites that will post anything it comes across in the hopes of being right and therefore the first person to do it. I've run into it before; I think they were claiming Jacques Villeneuve would join Lotus or some such a few days before the team announced their line-up or Trulli and Kovalainen.

I mean, look at the current liveries and count the number of sponsors.

Yeah, but they're Renault. They're still carrying around the stigma of being that team from the Singapore Incident. They were always going to have trouble retaining and getting sponsors. Besides, Gerard Lopez has been quoted as saying the team has 83% of its considerable budget in place. Given that he's a venture capitalist, he has to be very good when it comes to calculation. If he says they have 83% - and this wasn't a recent thing; it's not like he's said it in response to this report - then I see no reason not to believe him.