Prost: Renault and Red Bull F1 Exit Still on the Table
Alain Prost says Renault is still considering its Formula One future, with a full withdrawal and even Red Bull’s exit remaining possibilities as engine struggles persist.
Renault is still weighing up a possible exit from Formula One, with ambassador Alain Prost confirming at the 2015 Monaco Grand Prix that the French manufacturer has not ruled out pulling out of the sport. The uncertainty comes as Red Bull, Renault’s works partner, continues to criticise the engine’s performance and reliability.
Prost told Sky that Renault “would like to stay, for sure”, but admitted that leaving Formula One remains on the table. He pointed to Renault’s involvement in Formula E as an alternative, but said the company’s immediate priority is to assess its options within F1. If Renault does decide to withdraw, Prost warned, the consequences could extend to Red Bull and Toro Rosso, both of which rely on Renault engines under contracts running until the end of 2016.
Renault’s options: exit, team return or supplier status
Speculation about Renault’s next move has included the possibility of the company returning as a full constructor by acquiring a team, with Toro Rosso repeatedly linked to such a deal. Red Bull’s Helmut Marko has played down the likelihood of a Toro Rosso sale, while Renault’s Cyril Abiteboul said in Monaco that the focus remains on being an engine supplier. Abiteboul stated that securing engine reliability and performance is the immediate target before any longer-term commitments can be made.
Prost acknowledged that Renault has alternatives outside Formula One, but said the “first target is to see exactly what are the possibilities inside of Formula One”. He added that a withdrawal by Renault, and potentially Red Bull, would be a disaster for the sport, given Red Bull’s achievements since joining F1.
Engine struggles driving uncertainty
Red Bull’s public frustration with Renault’s power unit has fuelled the uncertainty. The partnership, which delivered four drivers’ and constructors’ titles from 2010 to 2013, has struggled since the introduction of the V6 turbo-hybrid era. Both sides have said their contracts will keep them together through 2016, but neither has committed beyond that point. Abiteboul said Renault’s “big target is to get the engine under control, both from reliability and performance perspectives”.
Renault’s decision on its future is expected to hinge on whether it can resolve its technical issues and secure a more competitive position in Formula One. If not, the sport could face the loss of both a major manufacturer and one of its most successful recent teams.
For more on the Red Bull–Renault partnership and its future, seeRed Bull to Review Renault F1 Engine Deal After Canada.
