Renault eyes a fourth engine supply deal with Williams for 2012 season – Formula 1 Update
Renault Managing director, Jean-Francois Caubet, has said that Renault is looking into an engine deal from the Williams team for the 2012 Formula 1 season.
Caubet added that an official application to the FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile) will be sent to finalise the deal.
According to the FIA laws, every engine supplier can only supply engines to a total of three teams. Renault is supplying engines to Red Bull racing, Lotus Renault GP and the Team Lotus, but will put forward an application to FIA about the Williams team.
Caubet, said, “The goal is to have more teams next year. We want to have four teams but we need to have the approval from the FIA, because the limit is only three. We plan to write [to the FIA] as soon as possible.”
Renault supplied machines are proving to be the best in the 2011 season, as the Red Bull is running far ahead of the racing peck and the Renault team is proving to be a headache for legendary teams, like Ferrari and McLaren.
Renault is also looking into making some customers for the 2013 V4 engines as Caubet said, “We are fully focused on the 2013 engine, and the key element now is to start working on a technical level with the teams – and we are doing that. We know there are
a lot of politics around, but we have such a big commitment about the 2013 engines.”
Caubet further added that FIA will not delay the use of the V4 engines beyond 2013, because the Formula 1 sport will be dead by then. He said that Formula 1 supremo, Bernie Ecclestone, should also look into V4 as a saviour for the Formula 1 sport.
As far as the Williams deal with Renault is concerned, it is understandable as the Cosworth powered Williams car have started the 2011 season in the worst ever manner in the history of sport. Williams’team has a contract with Cosworth until the end of 2012
season, but negotiations are expected at the end of the 2011 season.
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