Renault’s Formula One team executives have convened a meeting in Paris amid rumours that they are to follow Toyota out of the sport.
The French manufacturer is alleged to be considering simply being an engine supplier or quitting F1 altogether after a tumultuous year that saw Flavio Briatore forced out of the team in disgrace.
A decision is not expected from Renault on Wednesday as the company reportedly does not want to distract attention from a publicity event on Thursday at which president Carlos Ghosn will promote the company’s efforts at introducing zero-emission vehicles.
Renault F1 bosses Bob Bell and Jean-Francois Caubet are believed to have attended the meeting, but they will not be allowed to take part in the debate about the team’s future.
A Renault spokesperson said that the summit has been planned for weeks and could not be described as being an emergency meeting.
Renault finished eighth out of 10 teams in the constructors’ championship after Sunday’s final race of the season in Abu Dhabi. Daily Mail
Renault has been dogged in recent months by a race-fix scandal in which they decided not to contest charges that Nelson Piquet was ordered to deliberately crash in Singapore last year to help teammate Fernando Alonso to victory.
Renault’s former team boss was banned from the sport indefinitely and its chief engineer was suspended for five years.
Toyota said its decision to leave after this season reflected “the current severe economic realities.”
Honda have already withdrawn, while Germany’s BMW have announced they were leaving at the end of the season to cope with the credit crunch. AFP
