Williams and Renault are to team up again for the 2012 season, reforming a historic partnership that resulted in great success for both parties, it was announced yesterday.
The Williams team will run Renault engines next season and in 2013, evoking memories of the wonder years of 1989 – 1997 when their collaboration bore fruit in the form of four drivers’ and five constructors’ world championships.
Sir Frank Williams said that the deal was not about the past, however.
“We are delighted and excited by our new partnership with Renault,” he said. “This reunites the F1 team with a leading car manufacturer and complements our new relationship with Jaguar.
“At the same time, we are grateful to Cosworth: they have been a fair and reliable partner both on and off the track for the past two years and we look forward to working with them across our business in the future.
“Our previous relationship with Renault was one of the most successful in Williams’ history but we will not allow ourselves to dwell too much on the past. We must look to the future and continue to re-build our on-track reputation, which I am hopeful that today’s announcement will help us to do.”
Renault Sport president Bernard Rey also paid tribute to Williams and made reference to the past.
“Renault remains in Formula 1 to achieve success in a cost efficient way and the partnership with Williams has great potential to add to the results we have notched up over recent years with our other partner teams.
“Williams has recently taken several important steps, both commercially and technically, to update its operations and we feel that this partnership is another important step in its rigorous plan. It reiterates how determined the team is to achieve results, which matches perfectly with our own objectives.”
“Of course there’s also a great pride in reviving the Williams-Renault name. Together, we produced racing cars that are recognised for their technical innovation and it is still Renault’s most successful period in F1 to date. It’s a hugely exciting opportunity for both Renault and Williams.”
