Renault back as a full works team?

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by old man

Haven't they just brought Ilmore on board or is it just Mario Illien? Could that mean a move for engine building?

It seems that RBR/RBT have brought Mr Illien on as a consultant...

The Renault engine was not the best in V8 form either, it was just in an incredible series of RBR chassis that didnt mind too much..

[JacobP]

Originally Posted by Global Racing Schools

Go Renault! I want them back.

Considering how much the privateer teams are struggling, it would be certainly good to have another corporate team.

[djinvicta]

And Cherie Blair is about to join their Board.
That would be a sight on the grid walkabout.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ult-board.html

[Razor]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

It seems that RBR/RBT have brought Mr Illien on as a consultant...

The Renault engine was not the best in V8 form either, it was just in an incredible series of RBR chassis that didnt mind too much..

Last season Infiniti Red Bull was the best team behind Mercedes due their areo package too.

[Paradise City]

Big manufacturer teams seem to be making a comeback. And the brief return to "cost effective" constructor-manufacturer partnerships hasn't taken off.

Mclaren Honda partnership is a disaster, whilst Mercedes is a success. And sans Newey the Red Bull partnership is running aground as well. Red Bull isn't Williams. Red Bull is a global brand and Renault is sinking fortunes and resources into playing 2nd fiddle to that brand. That was never an issue with Williams as all Williams was a constructor so Renault got the marketing windfall they wanted back then - what they can't quite get now with Red Bull. I don't know why they diluted their marketing by putting Infiniti in the mix either but the point still stands. Now if they can pick up a team on the comparative cheap they can be known as Renault and just as Renault and they can translate some of that expenditure into raw marketing returns.

And I say big manufacturer teams are making a comeback. But I always get the sense that Ghosn is quite eccentric with his interest in F1 and we're never far away from them pulling the plug altogether. Merc could be gone like a flash too after a winning a couple. Despite their longevity, their board is quite temperamental.

[Greem]

For "temperamental" read "has a legal obligation to their shareholders to ensure dividend and share values are maximised".

If that means spending squillions on F1 for no observable return in either marketing, sales or profit, then *boof* they'll be out the door faster than we can say "silver arrows".

[Paradise City]

Alot of other boards are quieter or at least the disagreements stay behind closed doors. But there's usually some tug of war going at board level with Mercedes that makes it to the specialist press. VW are worse again for that.

Mercedes sold huge chunks of that team a few years ago too. So they have more staying power than they might otherwise have with some of the costs offloaded.

[alan1302]

Originally Posted by Paradise City

Big manufacturer teams seem to be making a comeback. And the brief return to "cost effective" constructor-manufacturer partnerships hasn't taken off.

Mclaren Honda partnership is a disaster, whilst Mercedes is a success. And sans Newey the Red Bull partnership is running aground as well. Red Bull isn't Williams. Red Bull is a global brand and Renault is sinking fortunes and resources into playing 2nd fiddle to that brand. That was never an issue with Williams as all Williams was a constructor so Renault got the marketing windfall they wanted back then - what they can't quite get now with Red Bull. I don't know why they diluted their marketing by putting Infiniti in the mix either but the point still stands. Now if they can pick up a team on the comparative cheap they can be known as Renault and just as Renault and they can translate some of that expenditure into raw marketing returns.

And I say big manufacturer teams are making a comeback. But I always get the sense that Ghosn is quite eccentric with his interest in F1 and we're never far away from them pulling the plug altogether. Merc could be gone like a flash too after a winning a couple. Despite their longevity, their board is quite temperamental.

The Infiniti thing and Red Bull never made any sense to me. Red Bull is the main team so you would have thought they would want their main brand on the Red Bull.

[Paradise City]

Originally Posted by alan1302

The Infiniti thing and Red Bull never made any sense to me. Red Bull is the main team so you would have thought they would want their main brand on the Red Bull.

Renault owns alot of Infiniti but they are autonomous organisations. Infiniti raised its profile and did well out of their RBR arrangement. But the result was that Renault was crowded out of the branding pecking order. Yeah, it was a bit of a mess and Renault aren't happy.

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by alan1302

The Infiniti thing and Red Bull never made any sense to me. Red Bull is the main team so you would have thought they would want their main brand on the Red Bull.

The Infiniti branding effectively funds the Renault powerplant...

They named a road car after Mr Vettel too.

[wolfhound]

Helmut Marko says that Red Bull would be open to Renault buying STR or the cars changing to yellow if Renault wanted more visiblity.



http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/re...ing-toro-rosso

[chunterer]

Might encourage Regie to spend more time/money on engine r&d too. Within the current restrictions of course...

[greentrumpet]

Or Ronnie could bang some heads together.

[cds_uk]

Originally Posted by greentrumpet

Or Ronnie could bang some heads together.

Very good.

[steve nielsen]

Originally Posted by Paradise City

Renault owns alot of Infiniti but they are autonomous organisations. Infiniti raised its profile and did well out of their RBR arrangement. But the result was that Renault was crowded out of the branding pecking order. Yeah, it was a bit of a mess and Renault aren't happy.

to make it more clear: Renault own a large part of Nissan and Infiniti is owned by Nissan.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Renault are considering leaving F1.

"I can confirm that we are looking at a lot of options, including getting out of Formula 1," said Abiteboul.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/118238

[GT6]

I think there is a lot of posturing there as both renault and red bull both try and get something ouy of the f1 people to even things up compared to mercedes

[GTRMagic]

Lotus 'almost' Sold To Renault

So... to tidy this up... could they swap the Lotus engine deal with Benz to RBR.. and all contracts are forgiven?

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Lotus 'almost' Sold To Renault

So... to tidy this up... could they swap the Lotus engine deal with Benz to RBR.. and all contracts are forgiven?

Maybe they're hoping the customer car thing will be agreed and they can buy a whole package from Mercedes?

[chunterer]

This reminds me of the Flav - Ligier thing back in the day....

Flav bought Ligier with TWR to ring fence a supply of Renaults (ironically) and in doing so kept them out of Ron's hands.

[djinvicta]

Flav, yes. We could do with a devious coniving character in the pit lane...

[Casper]

Must be short on stories this week.....

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by djinvicta

Flav, yes. We could do with a devious coniving character in the pit lane...

There are plenty left, they just dont show up with a different supermodel on their arm each event...

[old man]

I was looking for a place to comment on Matesich's latest cries of "unfair! we aren't winning any more", this latent thread seems best

How come MB has got it so right and RB/Renault got it so wrong? We also have McLaren Honda getting it wrong and everyone else to a greater or lesser degree when compared to MB. Fact is, MB did a better job and my view is that if RBR/Renault can't stand the heat they just get out of the kitchen but we should not make regulation changes to help them.

I know they will claim regulations were changed in the past to stop them winning, is that an argument now for changes to help them?

It would be sad to see such long standing supporters of F1 running away but is has happened before and whilst it would change things F1 would survive, perhaps in modified form?

Like RBR dominance or Ferrari for that matter, MB dominance will not last for too long

[Paradise City]

Renault wanted to do it on the cheap so remembering the Williams hey-day returned to being an engine supplier for a team they wouldn't have to run.

Mercedes wanted to do it cheap too but played it smart. Got a Sheik's ransom in gold from the ME, went racing with that whilst keeping the whole shebang in-house and under their control.

Meanwhile Renault is totally overshadowed by the glitzy Red Bull brand and loses interest. A lack of interest not least compounded by the team becoming doddery and losing focus after the Newey effect wears off.