Renault plan connection between young drivers and engine deals
- Published on 20 Jan 2018 10:49
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- By: Fergal Walsh
Renault claims that the direction of their young drivers will play an important role for future engine deals. Earlier this month, the French manufacturer announced its 2018 junior line-up and aims to have one of them in Formula 1 by 2020.
In years gone by, Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes have all produced young drivers, some of whom have found success in the sport. Cyril Abiteboul, Renault's team boss is hoping that the team will follow suit and mirror the current front-runners.
"No plan is constructed for the time being," he told Sky Sports. "But if you look at the way you can access F1, being able to use another team in order to confirm the fact that a driver is capable, it's very useful. We have this capacity in terms of what we are doing in terms of engine supply.
"Our plans for the next few years are very clear with Red Bull and McLaren but that's something we are clearly taking into account as we are building and starting to think about the long-term strategy of our engine supply activity."
Abiteboul stated the young drivers arriving in F1 and engine deals have a strong connection, and he hopes to make use of the two together in the coming years: "We know that looking at Mercedes, looking at a number of teams in the past," he said.
"That will also happen to us at some point in time. We cannot disconnect the two. Right now we have a legacy for when we were only an engine supplier in the relationship with Red Bull but as we build the next cycle of the strategy for engine supply activity we need to take that on board."
Fergal Walsh
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Replies (5)
Login to replyBarron
Posts: 625
These manufacturers should back off. Not only will they control the PU’s of their competitors but the drivers too. The last bit of true competition will be gone. What will be left for the likes of Williams, McLaren and Force India? They will become de facto satellite teams. I know Mercedes and Ferrari do it, but this practice should be banned for all and soon if F1 is to remain a credible series. If it wasn’t for Ferrari I would further suggest that you can either be an engine supplier or a racing team but not both. All teams should produce their own PU or be supplied by an independent PU manufacturer. This is the way it always was and when F1 produced its finest hours.
Harryw
Posts: 107
Couldn't agree more. Ferrari getting more powerful with deals for sauber and potentially hass
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
When both Red Bull and McLaren have own drivers looking for a seat? I wish you luck Abiteboul.
Barron
Posts: 625
Yes but they can apply leverage via the PU modes & software as do Mercedes and I presume, Ferrari. There’s far too much clash of interest in F1 now. It’s bonkers.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
They can, but that will have little effect on at least one of their customers; Red Bull have the funds to be able to withstand the lure of reduced PU costs, and already have a whole galore of drivers waiting for a chance. It would make little sense for them to give in for Renault pressure, especially since they seem to be very eager to leave Renault anyway. McLaren... Well, lets be honest: they could use the cost reduction. The loss of Honda's funds and the exit clause cash probably left a big hole in their bank, and that vault wasnt exactly brimming with cash to begin with. They already have competent drivers waiting for a shot, so it would make little sense for them to take one, but I can see how the lure of a lower PU-deal cost could be tempting for them.
But I agree that there is far too many interests involved in F1 as a whole. The whole driver thing, lures of cost reduction if teams do this or that, Tyre monopoly mainly given out due to strong ties to the upper echelons rather than actual competence... I dont mind some politics in F1, but its too much. But its also why we need more engine manufacturers. The more works teams/independant customer teams we have on the grid, the less of such peer pressure will be seen on the grid. At least until the business trolls find another way to apply their little scumbuggery onto the teams with less cash.