The French carmaker has announced today that the ING Renault F1 Team reconsiders the 2010 season entry due to the recent technical regulations changes. The Renault F1 team joins the Ferrari, Toyota, Red Bull and Toro Rosso teams which all are against the 60 million USD budget cap. Renault objects to the fact that FIA has not consulted with the teams when taking this decision, although FOTA has set even a lower financial objective.
Bernard Rey, President of the ING Renault F1 Team, said they can not be involved in a championship operating with different sets of rules. Flavio Briatore, ING Renault F1 Team Managing Director, said his team refuses to accept unilateral governance handed out by the FIA.
Renault Press Release:
The decision of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) to introduce two sets of Formula One technical regulations for the 2010 Formula One season has caused the Renault Group to reconsider its entry in next year’s FIA Formula One World Championship.
There is frustration that FOTA’s constructive proposals, including major cost saving measures to be
adopted progressively between 2009 and 2012, which were carefully constructed by FOTA members, have been completely ignored without any form of consultation by the FIA with the teams.
It should be stressed that FOTA has set the same, if not lower, financial objective as the FIA, but Renault strongly believes that this must be introduced through a different procedure agreed by all parties.
Renault also believes that it is paramount that the governance of the sport is coordinated with a spirit of consultation with all parties
(FIA, FOM, FOTA) in order toachieve a better balance between the costs and the revenues. Renault is also of thefirm view that all entrants in the World Championship must adhere to and operate under the same regulations.
President of the ING Renault F1 Team, Bernard Rey, commented: “Renault has always considered Formula One as the pinnacle of motor sport and the perfect stage to demonstrate technical excellence. We remain committed to the sport, however we cannot be involved in a championship
operating with different sets of rules, and if such rules are put into effect, we will be forced to pull out from next season.”
ING Renault F1 Team Managing Director, Flavio Briatore, commented: “Our aim is to, reduce costs while maintaining the high standards that make Formula One one of themost prestigious brands on the market. We want to achieve this in a coordinated manner with the regulatory and commercial bodies, and we refuse to accept unilateral governance handed out by the FIA. If the decisions announced by the World Council on the 29th of April 2009 are not revised, we have no choice but to withdraw from the FIA Formula One World Championship at the end of 2009.”
