Renault F1: It looks like the rush for the exit has begun

Yikes; what a blood bath this is becoming. Suddenly USF1 is not that big of a concern
Wonder if Flavio will buy them!

 

F-1 needs guys like Flavio. With the giant sucking sound going on, they better beg him to come back.

 

Honda, BMW, Toyota and probably Renault leave to be replaced with Campos, Lotus, Manor and maybe USF1. This does not seem to be a good trade. Bernie may have gotten what he wanted with much weaker teams to negotiate with, but when does the bleeding stop? Many of the new venues struggle to get people through the gate and in the stands, and those that do show up get to watch a processional due to the Tilke tracks that are more for client entertainment than racing. The withdrawal of many major sponsors and suppliers such as Bridgestone has to have an effect on the remaining teams and the venues. Some of it is the economy; some of it has to be the circus that Max and Bernie have subjected us to over the past few years. Next year will be an important one for the long term success of Formula 1.

 

I find it interesting that quite a number of people kept complaining about the manufactureres dominating F1 and how much better it was in the "good old days" with mostly private teams. Now that the manufacturers are pulling out and the small teams come back, it's still not okay

 

I guess deep down we all know the major teams actually have the money to provide innovation and breakthrough. Smaller teams are simply outclassed by the amount of money that is required to develop, test and deploy a truly competitive car.

What is now happening is the spec-series reality of F1. Its not moving towards innovation but more standardization. Spec chassis, engine and soon tires if someone wants that.

So next year is Ferrari and Mclaren vs well..no one else really.

 

Yes quite true...thanks. I was thinking of the 'major' manufacturers. I guess its Cosworth or nothing!

 

They're the same people who moan that they can't afford or can't find the classic Ferrari of their dreams because only a spoonful were ever made, and in the next thread scream that Ferrari is ruining the marque with overproduction and now Ferraris depreciate just like normal cars.

If the big car companies are out of F1, who gives a flip? Did any normal person suddenly buy a Toyota because Kobayashi scored points last week? Does anybody root for Toyota because they have a Toyota? Seems to me that privateer teams are what it's all about.

But I would be very upset if Renault leaves. Who will I hate? =o(

 

As the series implodes, the BMW decision not to sign the Concorde Agreement starts to look like the right thing. If they had signed and wanted to bail out it could have been expensive.

Question is if Renault goes Bye Bye, does Bernie beg BMW to buy back in? (try to say that one fast)

 

Kubica must be regretting his intent to drive with Renault......or will be if they leave. Mclaren will snap him up!!

 

Was the board meeting today?

 

+1

Manufacturers come and go. Has always been like that.

Renault has quit the sport before. Twice. They'll be back eventually.

 

Renault has been involved in F1 pretty much continuously as a manufacturer or engine provider since the mid70s when they brought their turbo engine out and transformed F1.

They had excellent success as just a engine provider and I personally that they will get re-involved as an engine provider and not go the whole hog as a manufacturer. As a manufacturer they have massive expenditures that running a competitive team imply, whereas for a much smaller investment of only supplying engines they still get the positive PR and glory from winning.

The stench from the McLaren/Renault spygate followed up by this year's revelation of crash-gate will take some time to dissipate...

As a manufacturer you take the full brunt of scandals. As an engine provider you can avoid taking the full hit like that (you only provided the engines and cannot be held accountable for the actions of customers using the engines).

They have already claimed the prize they came for (WDC and WCC) as a manufacturer. The near miss with Prost in 83 left a nasty bitter taste in their mouth and in 2005/2006 they were finally able to put that ghost to rest.

I can see them coming back as an engine supplier, but if they do pull out I do not see them undertake the massive expenditure and exposure to negative scandals that can and have befallen them as a manufacturer team...

Just MHO,

Frank

 

Thanks for that good write up.

Don't get me wrong, I will miss them if they leave. But it won't be the end of F1.

And - as you say - hopefully they'll come back as engine suppliers.

 

Possible rival series or good news for the American Open wheel series ?

 

Is it possible F1 racing has just become WAY too expensive and the numbers just don't really work for many of the teams any more?

 

For the manufacturers the total cost is not the only consideration.
They may be sick and tired of the FIA's frequent change in rules and other unpredictable actions.
What was once seen as a venue to build brand value and prestige may now seem to be profligate spending at a time when employees are being laid-off.

 

Agree overall....certainly agree with the last sentence....

 

Hulkenburg one step closer to a podium.....

 

I really hope Renault don't leave, especially due to the hit Kubica would take right now. But it seems to me that both Toyota and Renault may be making the decision to exit largely on the election of Todt to replace Max, and perhaps this is their way of saying they don't think things will change for the better under the new leadership.

 

"What was once seen as a venue to build brand value and prestige may now seem to be profligate spending at a time when employees are being laid-off."

Very true but it is not a new phenomenom: in the winter of 1983-84 (or perhaps the following one but after Alain Prosts ousting) Gerard Larrousse then boss of Renault F1 had Niki Lauda come to his office at the main Renault headquarters in Paris, to discuss him becoming the number one driver to lead Renault back to the front.

Ultimately the salary demands of Lauda as well as the perception of what he would have been paid could not be reconciled with the layoffs and social tension prevalent at the time so Renault decided not to pursue Lauda. It was not acceptable and the unions would have used Niki's salary as a weapon against management.

 

On Twitter last night: