Renault to supply Williams with engines?

Duke

Duke

Duke

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http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/91319

Renault is to lodge a request with the FIA to expand its engine supply deal to four teams in 2012, AUTOSPORT has learned, as talks with potential new partners - including Williams – enters an advanced stage.

The French car manufacturer already supplies Renault, Red Bull Racing and Team Lotus, but is keen to add another team to its roster for next year.

And with discussions about a deal looking promising, Jean-Francois Caubet, managing director of Renault Sport, has revealed that contact will now be made with the FIA to seek permission for a fourth supply deal for next year.

Under the current regulations, a manufacturer is only allowed to supply three teams, but it can expand on that if it gets permission from the governing body.

"The goal is to have more teams next year," Caubet told AUTOSPORT. "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 – although we must have stability between ourselves, [other customer suppliers] Cosworth and others."

Although sources suggest that the most likely new deal could be with Williams – either for 2012 or 2013 – Caubet insisted that there were other possibilities too.

When asked that the state of talks with Williams, Caubet said: "It is not only them."
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I get the feeling that although engines are only one part of the big picture, Williams going for Cosworth was always going to be a backwards step. I'm sure they make decent engines but to be at the front, they really need Merc, Ferrari or Renault power.
 
I was pretty glad when Williams decided to stick with Cosworth, had hoped they would be able to get enough out of it and it'd be a reasonably viable choice, especially with Hulk's pole last year but i think that was down to other factors than the engine.

After this years start though Williams seem to need to change a fair bit and i suppose Renault engines are proving to be pretty damn good so it can't hurt!
 
Tweaker said:
I hope they go with the classic livery from the Hill era, loved that car.
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Not likely since it was based on the cigarette brand Rothmans. I liked the early 90s scheme personally, back when Canon was the title sponsor:

21c9v1w.jpg
 
a 2012 Willams Renault would be fabulous (the team need a bit of good luck it seems)- I really liked the Canon livery but the Rothmans was easily my favourite

Really hope it comes off (FIA allowing Renault to supply 4 teams)

Would still prefer more engine manufacturers (of a decent level, not like the awful Cozzy )
 
Williams are the only ones who can afford the Renault engines, plus they can sell on all the technology from this years car to Virgin and HRT, they already sell parts to HRT.

The only other teams that could get the engines are Sauber and Torro Rosso, although the ferrari engine and Kers is good enough, so no reason to change.
 
This is always a good thing. I also think its great for Renault. As a small car manufacturer (as in small cars, not numbers, lol) there is genuine purpose for them to make 1.6 Turbo engines. They will be able to sell Clios with "the same engine technology as used in the Williams Renault F1 car", and whats more, there could even be a second Williams Clio!

Its a win win for both parties. F1 is all about marketing by association, which from 2013 onwards will be much more appealing for road car manufacturers from an engine point of view. I somehow doubt a 1.6 Turbo will ever be relevant to Ferrari's road car line up.

So thats Renault pushing for more teams, and PURE confirming an independant engine supply for F1 for 2013. Wonder who will be next to nail their colours to the 2013 and beyond F1 mast? Whilst I may not yet be convinced by Formula 1's 2013 regulations, is definitely having to desired effect by attracting car manufacturers back. Remember Renault are a team who nearly turned their back on F1 in 2005ish, and have all but turned their back on it again the last couple of years.
 
CaptainRAVE said:
So how many teams would be left with the Cosworth engines? HRT and Virgin?
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Possibly however I remember Cosworth saying the bare minimum they would support was either 3 or 4. Lotus would have paid them off a bit to get out early but they may end up leaving, with PURE entering soon, unless they can produce fewer engines and still make it worth doing.
 
I do feel a bit sorry for Cosworth. They clearly came back as the FIA were pushing for standard engines, and they were surely offered a golden ticket should that happen. Hence the reason the FIA only chose new teams with Cosworth deals, pretty much back-dooring a majority engine supplier. However, the FIA also chose teams who were not really up to the task, and so have struggled. And those who aren't struggling (Lotus and Williams) are now dumping Cosworth and going elsewhere. Cosworth came back to F1 full of promises from the FIA, but now have been left with some bottom of the grid teams and nothing new on the horizon. They either need to get a 2013 engine on the bench soon, of they will be gone once again come the end of 2012 :(
 
Malt_Vinegar said:
Williams + Jaguar Land Rover ;)

It could happen....
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I don't think so. If they have Renault engines, their team name would be Williams Renault at the least. I doubt Jaguar would want to stick their name on it aswell, and have 2 car makers in the team name. TATA might still invest and use another brand though.
 
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