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View Full Version : Blistering Renault and Lotus Rumors



Doc Austin
5th February 2015, 00:31
According to this link http://thisisf1.com/2015/01/29/force-india-sale-renault-interested/ ,


“The team (Force India) is for sale,” he claimed, “and Renault is interested as it wants to cut the cord to Red Bull and once again have a bigger presence in formula one.”

The link is to a article on http://thisisf1.com. To the best of my knowledge, this is a credible source.

The shocking part of this is the reference to Renault wanting to cut it's ties to Red Bull. Where does this leave Red Bull, and if all of this is true, do they start building their own power units?

From the same link:


Meanwhile, Bach also claimed that Pastor Maldonado’s place at Lotus is in doubt, as his and the Enstone team’s major Venezuelan backer, the state-owned PDVSA, is in crisis over the dramatic fall in oil prices.
He wrote: “Bernie Ecclestone is apparently looking for a buyer for Lotus, because he wants to get rid of the uncomfortable Gerard Lopez.


If only Lotus could have held out and not switched to Mercedes, they would have probably been in the catbird seat to get bought up by Renault.


Now, another link:

http://autoweek.com/article/formula-one/force-india-denies-rumors-financial-collapse



Indeed, the highly respected German publication Auto Motor und Sport on Thursday repeated rumors of Force India falling so behind in bills to key suppliers -- such as one that provides the all-important carbon fiber -- that it is the reason for the delayed debut of the VJM08.

Holy cow. If they don't even have their tubs yet, how are they going to make the next test?

Couple all of this with The Marussia troubles and I can't remember an F1 season with so much doubt hanging over so many teams. Caterham is presumable gone, Marussi may or may not make it, Force India is allegedly for sale and Bernie wants Lotus sold. Add to that Renault allegedly wants to cut it's ties to Red Bull, and that leaves McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes as the only two teams in the series that are not fighting some sort of crisis.

Thinking back to last year when the smaller teams were voicing so much concern, don't we all feel silly now for not taking it seriously enough?

anfield5
5th February 2015, 02:13
How much is true and how much is Ecclecake stirring the pot?

We seem to have some Ecclestone inspired smoke hanging around at the start of every season.

Force India claim they have their tubs and cars all-but ready to go and the hold up was simply due to moving to Cologne to use TOyota's wind tunnell. Even if this is true they are way behind schedule, and as has been well documented VJM is having some major money troubles.

CNR
6th February 2015, 15:37
just one problem with that officially Renault will only be supplying engines to toro rosso
as Red Bull has linked up with Japanese car maker Infiniti and will receive effectively free engines

The deal is being labelled a "marketing and technical agreement" with Infiniti, the premium brand of Japan's Nissan, which is part-owned by Renault.
The engines will still be called Renault,
http://adamcooperf1.com/2014/06/25/red-bull-set-to-take-over-viry-and-design-new-engine-for-2016/
Red Bull set to take over Viry and design new engine for 2016?


Rumours to the effect that Renault could be planning to sell its F1 engine department in Viry come at exactly the same time as suggestions from Helmut Marko that Red Bull wants to do its own thing on the power unit front – and it’s not hard to tie the two together.

Sources suggest that rather than attempt to start its own engine operation from scratch there are plans for Red Bull to take control of the Viry operation, although whether that would involve an outright purchase of the facility in the short term is not yet clear.

truefan72
7th February 2015, 06:02
just one problem with that officially Renault will only be supplying engines to toro rosso
as Red Bull has linked up with Japanese car maker Infiniti and will receive effectively free engines

The deal is being labelled a "marketing and technical agreement" with Infiniti, the premium brand of Japan's Nissan, which is part-owned by Renault.
The engines will still be called Renault,
http://adamcooperf1.com/2014/06/25/red-bull-set-to-take-over-viry-and-design-new-engine-for-2016/
Red Bull set to take over Viry and design new engine for 2016?


Rumours to the effect that Renault could be planning to sell its F1 engine department in Viry come at exactly the same time as suggestions from Helmut Marko that Red Bull wants to do its own thing on the power unit front – and it’s not hard to tie the two together.

Sources suggest that rather than attempt to start its own engine operation from scratch there are plans for Red Bull to take control of the Viry operation, although whether that would involve an outright purchase of the facility in the short term is not yet clear.

renault owns nissan and hence...infiniti

CNR
17th February 2015, 04:13
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/117701
"Even though we have two years of partnership to go before hopefully there is a renewal,

N. Jones
17th February 2015, 05:59
What a mess. Is anybody going to be on the grid in Melbourne?

And I thought US '05 was a joke...

Rollo
18th February 2015, 13:56
Rumours to the effect that Renault could be planning to sell its F1 engine department in Viry come at exactly the same time as suggestions from Helmut Marko that Red Bull wants to do its own thing on the power unit front – and it’s not hard to tie the two together.

Sources suggest that rather than attempt to start its own engine operation from scratch there are plans for Red Bull to take control of the Viry operation, although whether that would involve an outright purchase of the facility in the short term is not yet clear.

How much is the Nissan GTR-LM a dress rehearsal for an F1 assault? Renault, Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot and Toyota have all done this in the past.

CNR
21st February 2015, 13:26
http://au.eurosport.com/formula-1/renault-ponders-its-formula-1-future_sto4609782/story.shtml
""Renault is considering a rethink of its Formula 1 strategy in a move that could result in the return of a fully branded works effort.

While its focus right now is on improving its power unit to help partner Red Bull challenge Mercedes for the title, the French car manufacturer has admitted that its longer-term ambitions could lay elsewhere.

http://paddocktalk.com/news/html/story-272058.html
"Mateschitz denies selling F1 team to Audi


Dietrich Mateschitz has denied reports he might be looking to sell his F1 team Red Bull to Audi.

On Thursday, stories emerged in the German press suggesting that the Red Bull mogul and billionaire might be looking to go beyond his role as a team owner and buy into the sport's commercial rights.
"
RedBull to Audi ?
toro rosso to Renault ?

zako85
21st February 2015, 14:58
I find this rumor puzzling. On one hand, Renault massively underestimated Mercedes and underspent on the 2014+ engine design. On the other hand, according to this rumor, Renault thinks it can afford to run a factory team. Running a factory team is really expensive. This is in the middle of not so great global car sales. Of course, if the rumor turns out to be true, it's good news for F1, since F1 would gain another strong team. Lotus's fortunes have been quite unstable due to its uncertain financial situation.

Personally, I think the recurring rumor of a new Renault factory team is a PR stunt that's meant to put more pressure on Red Bull (perhaps to give more credit to Renault or to perform better).

CNR
22nd February 2015, 09:59
http://www.foxsports.com/motor/story/f1-renault-team-return-report-022115
"Auto Motor und Sport said Toro Rosso, Red Bull's second team, could be the frontrunner, as it is the only team on the list with no debt."