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Motor Authority - blog Tag: Renault

  • Piquet cut from Renault F1 team, calls Briatore his 'executioner'

    Piquet cut from Renault F1 team, calls Briatore his 'executioner' August 3rd, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, August 3rd, 2009 Kenneth Hall 0 Comments

    Piquet cut from Renault F1 team, calls Briatore his 'executioner' Nelson Piquet on Monday confirmed he has been ousted from the Renault team.

    In a statement posted on his official website, the 23-year-old Brazilian said it is "with disappointment" that he has been served notice that he will be replaced.

    "But, at the same time, I feel a sense of relief for the end of the worst period of my career," said Piquet, who slammed his team boss and personal manager Flavio Briatore.

    He said he received "no attention at all" during his debut season in 2008, and claims that occasionally he would be threatened with the sack "15 minutes before qualifying and races".

    Piquet revealed that he was promised equal... Nelson Piquet on Monday confirmed he has been ousted from the Renault team. In a statement posted on his official website, the 23-year-old Brazilian said it is "with disappointment" that he has been served notice that he will be replaced. "But, at the same time, I feel a sense of relief for the end of the worst period of my career," said Piquet, who slammed his team boss and personal manager Flavio Briatore. He said he received "no attention at all" during his debut season in 2008, and claims that occasionally he would be threatened with the sack "15 minutes before qualifying and races". Piquet revealed that he was promised equal conditions with Fernando Alonso this season but remained Renault's clear number two, with a performance-based contract "requiring me to score 40 per cent of Fernando Alonso's points" by mid-season. But Piquet claims that in four of the first nine races in 2009, his R29 was a specification behind Alonso's car, and clearly blames Briatore. "I always believed that having a manager was being a part of a team and having a partner. A manager is supposed to encourage you, support you, and provide you with opportunities. In my case it was the opposite. "Flavio Briatore was my executioner," the Brazilian said. Read More

  • Renault confirms Penske seeking cars for Saturn brand

    Renault confirms Penske seeking cars for Saturn brand July 31st, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, July 31st, 2009 Kenneth Hall 10 Comments

    Renault confirms Penske seeking cars for Saturn brand Speculation on Renault's interest in Saturn has been circulating since GM's bankruptcy filing began looking like a certainty, but it was Roger Penske's Penske Automotive Group that won the bid to buy the carmaker. Now, however, Renault may yet get a chance at some involvement, with confirmation from the French carmaker today that Penske is working on a deal to supply Renault cars to Saturn for the U.S.

    The parts and car-sharing arrangement would not be a Renault-Nissan deal, however, reports Automotive News. Instead, it would strictly be the Renault side of the alliance working with Saturn. That opens the door to completely new and unique... Speculation on Renault's interest in Saturn has been circulating since GM's bankruptcy filing began looking like a certainty, but it was Roger Penske's Penske Automotive Group that won the bid to buy the carmaker. Now, however, Renault may yet get a chance at some involvement, with confirmation from the French carmaker today that Penske is working on a deal to supply Renault cars to Saturn for the U.S. The parts and car-sharing arrangement would not be a Renault-Nissan deal, however, reports Automotive News. Instead, it would strictly be the Renault side of the alliance working with Saturn. That opens the door to completely new and unique product for Saturn as far as American buyers are concerned. It also side-steps the potentially deal-breaking brand competition between Nissan and Saturn that might otherwise result. There remains at least another month of work on Penske's deal to buy Saturn, however, and though Renault has confirmed it is in discussion with Penske, no details are being released. Other deals with as yet unnamed carmakers are also being pursued, according to Saturn spokesman Tony Pordon. Penske will definitely need to find some sort of manufacturing partner for Saturn, because the Penske Group's purchase of Saturn doesn't include any of the manufacturing facilities where the current cars are built. Earlier reports of the Renault-Saturn tie-up included hints at the import of Renault-Samsung vehicles from South Korea, rather than the French-made cars sold as Renaults in Europe. Whatever the source of the cars, however, it is clear that the Saturn brand will be making some major changes in order to stay in the game. Read More

  • No F1 breakaway series, Mosley to step down

    No F1 breakaway series, Mosley to step down June 24th, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, June 24th, 2009 Kenneth Hall 2 Comments

    No F1 breakaway series, Mosley to step down Max Mosley will step down as FIA president later this year, as formula one's political crisis involving eight rebel teams' threat to set up a breakaway championship ended on Wednesday. Hopes that the Paris meeting of the World Motor Sport Council would be the scene for a resolution were proven correct, after 69-year-old Mosley emerged and told reporters "there will be no split".

    "We have agreed to a reduction of costs," said the FIA president, following a lengthy dispute about his proposed budget cap, governance style, and ultimately his very presence at the head of the sport's ruling authority. "There will be one F1 championship but the... Max Mosley will step down as FIA president later this year, as formula one's political crisis involving eight rebel teams' threat to set up a breakaway championship ended on Wednesday. Hopes that the Paris meeting of the World Motor Sport Council would be the scene for a resolution were proven correct, after 69-year-old Mosley emerged and told reporters "there will be no split". "We have agreed to a reduction of costs," said the FIA president, following a lengthy dispute about his proposed budget cap, governance style, and ultimately his very presence at the head of the sport's ruling authority. "There will be one F1 championship but the objective is to get back to the spending levels of the early 90s within two years," he said on Wednesday. As for his earlier claim that he will not be deciding to step aside in the midst of a crisis, he added: "I will not be up for re-election now we have peace." F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone was also in Paris and said he was "very happy that common sense has prevailed". Read More

  • Mosley could be out of a job this week as FOTA preps breakaway

    Mosley could be out of a job this week as FOTA preps breakaway June 23rd, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, June 23rd, 2009 Kenneth Hall 0 Comments

    Mosley could be out of a job this week as FOTA preps breakaway On Thursday of this week, FOTA plans to speed up preparations for next year's breakaway world championship.

    According to strong speculation, the timing of the meeting has been planned to occur immediately after Wednesday's World Motor Sport Council summit.

    Rumors indicate that a vote could be proposed to oust FIA president Max Mosley - or minimally reduce his power - thus potentially ending the standoff with the rebel teams.

    It has emerged that the FOTA bosses met on Sunday morning in the Renault motor home, where it was decided that it would be unanimously declared that no peace deal with Mosley is being sought.

    It was directly... On Thursday of this week, FOTA plans to speed up preparations for next year's breakaway world championship. According to strong speculation, the timing of the meeting has been planned to occur immediately after Wednesday's World Motor Sport Council summit. Rumors indicate that a vote could be proposed to oust FIA president Max Mosley - or minimally reduce his power - thus potentially ending the standoff with the rebel teams. It has emerged that the FOTA bosses met on Sunday morning in the Renault motor home, where it was decided that it would be unanimously declared that no peace deal with Mosley is being sought. It was directly contradictory to Mosley's parallel suggestion that a deal is close, which according to another rumour was spurred on by pressure from F1 owner CVC's lawyers about the damaging nature of the political chaos. "We have taken our decision and that's it. There is nothing more to discuss," Renault's Briatore was quoted as saying by the Spanish press. "The FIA closed the door on us. We decided to do our own championship. There are no negotiations," he said, adding on Sunday that details of the new series will begin to be set in stone "next week". "I am not interested in what Mosley says. It is not our business any more," said Briatore. In Italy's Tuttosport, Ferrari president and FOTA chairman Luca di Montezemolo indicated he is looking forward to the breakaway. "In November 2007, Ferrari and Kimi Raikkonen won the formula one world championship because there were clear rules and it was possible. No longer," said the Italian. Montezemolo will attend Wednesday's FIA summit. Read More

  • McLaren boss says breakaway will quash F1 while Mosley appears unconcerned

    McLaren boss says breakaway will quash F1 while Mosley appears unconcerned June 19th, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, June 19th, 2009 Kenneth Hall 0 Comments

    McLaren boss says breakaway will quash F1 while Mosley appears unconcerned One way or another, it appears that the core teams of what has been Formula 1 for the past 50 years will be racing against each other next year. McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh thinks the recognition will follow the teams, while FIA president Max Mosley thinks the team will be forced to return when they fail to setup their own series.

    The two contradictory viewpoints arise out of the same set of facts: a dispute over the state of the proposed 2010 funding and technical regulations, and the way in which they were proposed and approved. The ongoing struggle at the heart of the matter has even gone to court.

    The FIA president predicts an... One way or another, it appears that the core teams of what has been Formula 1 for the past 50 years will be racing against each other next year. McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh thinks the recognition will follow the teams, while FIA president Max Mosley thinks the team will be forced to return when they fail to setup their own series. The two contradictory viewpoints arise out of the same set of facts: a dispute over the state of the proposed 2010 funding and technical regulations, and the way in which they were proposed and approved. The ongoing struggle at the heart of the matter has even gone to court. The FIA president predicts an eventual compromise, but acknowledged that it may not be found until early in 2010. "They (FOTA) can't afford not to run in the championship and we would be very reluctant to have a championship without them," Mosley told the BBC. The 69-year-old suspects some of the manufacturer-backed teams can afford to take such a hard line because "some of them will disappear" whether there is a solution or not. "I think we'll probably lose one or two, maybe even three manufacturer teams," said Mosley. "As for the great traditional teams, and I would include Ferrari, they need to be there and they will be there. It will get sorted out," he added. He believes some figures are hoping to gain control of the governance and income of the sport but that ultimately the plans for an alternate series are not serious. "Eventually they will recognize that it can't happen and it will all come back together," said Mosley. "Everybody can take a tremendously strong position; I could say that I'm going to win some great sporting event in 2010, but until you actually get there, you can boast all you like. Whitmarsh on the other hand is certain that the FOTA-backed startup championship is the one that will ultimately shine through. "I don't think there will be two premier racing championships," he told the BBC. "All I can say is that there will be a championship next year and that the major names that have historically been involved in motor racing will be racing together and I think that will be recognized as the major championship." Read More

  • Formula One Teams Association announces breakaway series for 2010

    Formula One Teams Association announces breakaway series for 2010 June 18th, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, June 18th, 2009 Kenneth Hall 1 Comment

    Formula One Teams Association announces breakaway series for 2010 As evening fell at Silverstone on Thursday, Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) bosses headed out onto the A43 bound for Renault's nearby Enstone headquarters. After deliberating for hours, the team body has since released a statement that all the teams have confirmed to the FIA and the commercial rights holder that they are willing to commit until the end of 2012.

    However, FOTA also acknowledges that the wishes of the majority of the teams have been ignored. The team body is not willing to compromise on the fundamental values of the sport and have declined to alter their original conditional entries to the 2010 World Championship.... As evening fell at Silverstone on Thursday, Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) bosses headed out onto the A43 bound for Renault's nearby Enstone headquarters. After deliberating for hours, the team body has since released a statement that all the teams have confirmed to the FIA and the commercial rights holder that they are willing to commit until the end of 2012. However, FOTA also acknowledges that the wishes of the majority of the teams have been ignored. The team body is not willing to compromise on the fundamental values of the sport and have declined to alter their original conditional entries to the 2010 World Championship. Furthermore, tens of millions of dollars have been withheld from many teams by the commercial rights holder, going back as far as 2006. Instead, FOTA has confirmed that it plans to commence preparations for a new Championship, which it describes as reflecting the values of its participants and partners. This series will have transparent governance, one set of regulations, encourage more entrants and listen to the wishes of the fans, including offering lower prices for spectators worldwide, partners and other important stakeholders. Importantly, the major drivers, stars, brands, sponsors, promoters and companies historically associated with the highest level of motorsport will all feature in this new series. As for the 2010 F1 season, only McLaren, BMW, Renault, Toyota and Brawn are listed as provisional on the initial FIA entry list, as Ferrari and Red Bull's two teams are bound to compete according to (albeit disputed) existing agreements. Read More

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