F1 2015 Megathread

Yes, not good for them. Although Eddie Jordan said it happened to him all the time. It paves the way for Renault to buy them I suppose, and drop Red Bull.

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/222304/1/lotus-urges-renault-sale-as-bailiffs-move-in.html

Yes, not good for them. Although Eddie Jordan said it happened to him all the time. It paves the way for Renault to buy them I suppose, and drop Red Bull.

 

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/222304/1/lotus-urges-renault-sale-as-bailiffs-move-in.html

That's what they said on Sky F1 as well.

Red Bull want to switch to Mercedes engines and end their partnership with Renault early. That does not look good PR wise for Renault BUT Renault would look better to be the ones to make the move first. By saying we are breaking our partnership with Red Bull and buying out the Lotus team.

Reading that link I posted again, its a shame that Charles Pic's actions are punishing the team in this way, especially if it hampers the relocation to Monza.

 

Bad move from Ferrari not bringing Vettel in to pit and he certainly showed his anger in the post race interview. Have a watch: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/34030644

from the sounds of it the decision to attempt a one-stop was Vettels, it totally backfired on him.

Reading that link I posted again, its a shame that Charles Pic's actions are punishing the team in this way, especially if it hampers the relocation to Monza.

Seems like it was confirmed last night that Renault are waiting for approval to buy a controlling stake in the Lotus team.

Renault poised to complete Lotus deal and revive works F1 team

By Ian Parkes Friday, August 28th 2015, 17:17 GMT

 

Renault is poised to return as a works team to Formula 1, with a deal to take a majority stake in Lotus due to be finalised next week, AUTOSPORT understands.

 

The agreement would end months of protracted negotiations and bring a factory Renault operation back onto the F1 grid for the first time since 2010.

 

AUTOSPORT sources have indicated the French car manufacturer would take a stake up to 65 per cent, worth a total of £65million, with an initial downpayment of £7.5million to be followed by equal instalments over the following 10 years.

 

Gerard Lopez, currently Lotus F1 team co-owner via his Genii organisation, looks set to remain as a shareholder with a potential stake of around 25 per cent, with four-time champion and Renault ambassador Alain Prost acquiring the remaining 10 per cent.

 

The arrangement with Lopez and Prost would be very similar to that at Mercedes where motorsport boss Toto Wolff and non-executive chairman Niki Lauda possess shareholdings in the F1 team.

 

Following a Renault presentation meeting currently scheduled for Monday, an array of documents is then due to be signed involving parties from both sides over the following days.

 

At this stage in proceedings Renault is understood to have negotiated a full sponsorship package, with the board - spearheaded by CEO Carlos Ghosn - signing off on a budget that would put it on a par with the likes of Mercedes and Red Bull.

 

One of the few areas to be determined surrounds the driver line-up for while Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado have contracts with Lotus for next year, Renault coming on board alters the landscape.

 

Renault is expected to keep Frenchman Grosjean, with Maldonado believed to be negotiating - supported by backer PDVSA - to ensure he retains his seat.

 

The up-to-date facilities at Lotus's Enstone factory - well known to Renault from its previous ownership of the team - are crucial to the deal.

 

Lotus's CFD programme and driver-in-the-loop simulator are only two years old, while the 60 per cent windtunnel is three years old.

 

Although Renault, through Prost, has also held tentative talks with Force India about a potential shareholding, the Silverstone-based marque's relative lack of facilities is a drawback.

 

Renault has no real wish to acquire a team without the infrastructure behind it, though Force India remains an option should the Lotus shareholders pull out of the deal at the last minute.

 

Of particular interest is Renault's current engine deal with Red Bull and Toro Rosso, with sources suggesting there are three options on the table.

 

The first is Renault honouring its other contracts for 2016 alongside its own team.

 

Though this would maintain an additional income stream, Red Bull's contract specifically states that it takes priority.

 

Another possibility is for Renault - which has road car affiliations with Mercedes - to keep Lotus's current Mercedes power for a year while seeing out its other contracts.

 

Finally, Renault could focus entirely on its own programme, but as a way of softening the blow to Red Bull, assist it in finding a new supplier, where the links with Mercedes could again pay dividends.

 

The planned payment structure would amount to a bold statement of long-term F1 commitment from Renault, guaranteeing a minimum 10-year presence.

 

While tentative steps would be taken in 2016, as Renault again tries to find its feet in F1 as a full-time works outfit, it would consider '17 as its first year to try to push the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari for honours.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/120532

Good for the sport, anything that keeps more teams and different engine suppliers on the grid the better.

Seems like it was confirmed last night that Renault are waiting for approval to buy a controlling stake in the Lotus team.

 

 

 

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/120532

 

Good for the sport, anything that keeps more teams and different engine suppliers on the grid the better.

it was a bit pathetic on the bbc. jordan perry and coulthard spent 5 minutes discussing lotus's podium thinking that lotus were still using renault engines.

the only performance lotus currently has is related to engine performance. i'm not sure that taking over the team and putting in a renault engine would create anything other than a 2nd rank outfit.

it was a bit pathetic on the bbc. jordan perry and coulthard spent 5 minutes discussing lotus's podium thinking that lotus were still using renault engines.

 

the only performance lotus currently has is related to engine performance. i'm not sure that taking over the team and putting in a renault engine would create anything other than a 2nd rank outfit.

With poor knowledge like that then its not surprising Sky have got all of the F1 coverage.

All Renault are doing is turning back time and buying their old factory team setup back. A setup which won them 2 world titles with Alonso. I reckon if it goes ahead they may even try to lure Alonso back to the team for a third time.

With poor knowledge like that then its not surprising Sky have got all of the F1 coverage.

 

All Renault are doing is turning back time and buying their old factory team setup back. A setup which won them 2 world titles with Alonso. I reckon if it goes ahead they may even try to lure Alonso back to the team for a third time.

renault have had little success with the hybrid power plants. mercedes generate electric power very efficiently from turbo overun. it is something the other engine manufacturers seem to struggle to achieve. honda learned the hard way that they can't match it. dropping mercedes engines took mclaren to the back of the grid. i cannot see alonso making that mistake twice.

Rather dull race today and it needed a typical F1 rules drama after the race to spice it up. Which ended up being a fuss about nothing.

Decent win for Lewis and totally dominated all weekend. He displayed a Schumacher-esque dominance.

Agreed, very uneventful.

This is a bit of a cheek though:

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/esp-italian-grand-prix-disrespectful-hamilton-fails-remove-hat-113113235--f1.html

considering the booing from the fans when he was on the podium. What is it with Ferrari fans that they feel the need to do this?

If anything, Hamilton was right to keep his hat on because of his stupid new hairstyle!

Agreed, very uneventful.

 

This is a bit of a cheek though:

 

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/esp-italian-grand-prix-disrespectful-hamilton-fails-remove-hat-113113235--f1.html

 

considering the booing from the fans when he was on the podium. What is it with Ferrari fans that they feel the need to do this?

 

If anything, Hamilton was right to keep his hat on because of his stupid new hairstyle!

Got the feeling he regrets colouring his hair. He kept his hat or helmet on for most of the weekend. He did apologise for not removing it for the minutes silence though.

The Italians much like the Spanish boo him every time he is on the podium.

Got the feeling he regrets colouring his hair. He kept his hat or helmet on for most of the weekend. He did apologise for not removing it for the minutes silence though.

 

The Italians much like the Spanish boo him every time he is on the podium.

Like every Monza race I was really looking forward to it, but it was above average at best

I hope they don't lose this circuit on the tour. It's a classic circuit. Much like Monaco, Spa and Silverstone, it needs to be on.