Saturday 5th December 2015
Renault back in F1
Carlos Ghosn confirms plan to bring Renault back to F1 having bought out the Lotus team
As global car industry bosses go Carlos Ghosn is one of the more interesting ones, not generally given to PR glossed platitudes and more willing than most to tell it like it is.
First turbocharged car to win a Grand Prix
"Renault had two options: to come back at 100 per cent or leave," he says in a press release confirming theto buy out the Lotus F1 team. "After a detailed study, I have decided that Renault will be in Formula 1, starting 2016. The final details supplied by F1's main stakeholders gave us the confidence to accept this new challenge. Our ambition is to win - even if it will take some time."This seemingly straightforward move inevitably conceals a huge amount of internal politics within the sport, not least after Red Bull's very public dissatisfaction with the Renault engine it's used this year. You can be sure Bernie will have been involved somewhere along the line too and he'll no doubt be delighted to see another manufacturer team on the grid, especially one with Renault's history.
As the press release points out, "Renault has had uninterrupted involvement in Formula 1 for almost 40 years. In 1977, it revolutionised the championship with the introduction of turbocharging, a technique that soon became the norm in the sport. Renault has since taken part in more than 600 grand prix, claiming 168 race wins, 12 Constructors' titles and 11 Drivers' crowns." There's also a tip of the hat to Lotus, as "work continues on finalising the acquistion of the team in the shortest timeframe possible." Renault acknowledges the shared history too. "The Lotus F1 Team effectively stands out as the best partner. Renault and Lotus F1 have known each other for 15 years and were world champions together in 2005 and 2006."
Could we see a black and gold Renault in 2016?
There's clearly more than a little pride at stake here but Ghosn is a pragmatist as well and the press release is keen to list the publicity and technical benefits of F1 involvement as it pushes ahead with electric and hybrid powertrains. Clearly Honda's traumatic first year back in the sport hasn't put him off...Back in the real world it's good news for fans of Renaultsport cars too, F1 involvement seemingly inspiring a new generation of performance road car products. "Renault will develop its R.S. range by stepping up investment in order to be active on every continent and in even more segments with vehicles that meet the needs of their different markets," says the release. With asoon to launch, the C-segment hot-hatch market as competitive as ever and the long-awaited Alpine sports car project still seemingly in progress we'll be looking forward to seeing the fruits of that.
First things first thought; what's the livery going to be like?
[Photos:]