FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[RA Dunk]

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

Renault is to discuss pulling out of Formula 1 at an emergency board meeting in Paris on Wednesday.

The French car company will decide whether to remain in the sport with its own team, switch to simply being an engine supplier or quit altogether.

The news comes on the day that Toyota announced its decision to quit F1, becoming the third car company to leave the sport in the last 11 months.

Renault is not expected to make public its decision on Wednesday.

The company does not want to distract attention from a publicity event on Thursday at which president Carlos Ghosn will promote the company's efforts at introducing zero-emission vehicles.

The emergency board meeting will be attended by Renault F1 bosses Bob Bell and Jean-Francois Caubet, but they will not be allowed to take part in the debate about the team's future.

A Renault spokeswoman was unable to comment.

Renault have had their least competitive F1 season since 2001 and finished eighth out of 10 teams in the constructors' championship after Sunday's final race of the season in Abu Dhabi.

The company came under scrutiny for the team's involvement in the Singapore 2008 race-fixing scandal, in which they decided not to contest charges that they had asked Nelson Piquet Jr to crash to aid team-mate Fernando Alonso's bid for victory.

Motorsport's governing body the FIA gave Renault a ban from F1, suspended for two years, as punishment, while team bosses Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds were forbidden from attending FIA-sanctioned events.

Last month, Renault signed the highly-rated Polish driver Robert Kubica to lead their team in 2010 as a replacement for double world champion Alonso, who has moved to Ferrari.

[vaptin]

bugger

Renault F1 bosses Bob Bell and Jean-Francois Caubet, but they will not be allowed to take part in the debate about the team's future.

that sounds like

[Cubejam]

Yeah. Not good. I have a strong feeling they will be leaving F1.

In the last 11 months we have lost 3 manufacturers, leaving renault & Ferrari (McLaren, can you call them a manufacturer?)

Now... Just before they announced they were leaving they all held meetings like this. The outcome was the same every time. First Honda, then BMW, then Toyota. All in the same way. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the beginning of the end of manufacturers in F1.

And to be honest. Its all entirely their fault.

Remember the FIA/FOTA row. If they agreed to a budget cap this wouldn't happen.
Toyota's Howett was one of the leading forces behind FOTA's decision to say no to a cap, as was Theissen & Briatore. Now look... all three of them leaving...
It's their fault they destroyed their teams future.

[myownalias]

It's hardly unexpected but it's sad to see a name like Renault disappear; also this could have a massive knock-on effect; Red Bull could be without engines should Renault decide to ditch F1 entirely. Leaving Red Bull with few options at this moment for engines. Ferrari or Cosworth it would seem are the only options with Mercedes already ruled out!

[cap-dude]

That would leave only two Manufactures in the sport.

Seriously hope this doesn't happen.

[vaptin]

The signs are there that they'll leave, but why? They look to have a strong driver line up, and have worked on next years car similar to ferrari.

[al4x]

as i mentioned in the toyota thread, for me, f1 has been dying for some time now, tracks/teams and politics, my fall back team should renault leave was toyota, now it looks like both will be gone soon,

[scotty]

Looks like the FIA were right about the cost cutting measures after all.

[RA Dunk]

The signs are there that they'll leave, but why?

Poor sales from the recession, poor results, crashgate scandal, new team boss

[myownalias]

Looks like the FIA were right about the cost cutting measures after all.

I bet that Max Mosley is sitting back with smug look on his face right now... I just find it ironic that the main protagonists of the budget cap are all leaving/left F1!

[Frosty]

I don't think it's all about the cost cutting. I think it's a lot to with the recent achievements of the teams and the integrity of the sport.

[myownalias]

But it's baffling that they signed Robert Kubica while uncertain on the future of the team, Glock could end up in no-mans-land as well as he was rumoured to be joining Renault!

[Cubejam]

The signs are there that they'll leave, but why? They look to have a strong driver line up, and have worked on next years car similar to ferrari.

They board of directors may take their driver lineup into account... but they only really look at numbers and well.. this year renault finished 8th of 10 teams.
They no longer have Symmonds, flavio or Alonso.. so.... who knows....

[7UpJordan]

If Renault do pull out I hope they find a buyer because the team entity itself is a legend having started off as Toleman, which became Benetton and then became Renault. Plus we need those 26 cars on the grid for next year.

[richindarlo]

I wasnt too surprised by the news that Toyota were leaving the sport this morning, but this one has surprised me a little more. After the investment the team put into 2010, and the fact that they have signed drivers for next year, i think this would be a much bigger shock.
I think that if they leave its not purely a financial decision. The teams name was dragged through the mud over the "crash-gate" scandal.
It would be a real shame if they leave, but what will be interesting is if they are leaving, are they leaving completely (i.e. will Red Bull need to find a new engine supplier?)
Big couple of days for F1 coming up i think!!