No more than four teams powered by Renault
Renault now only plays an engine supplier role in Formula 1, but with success, notably with Red Bull. The number of teams powered by the French engine has increased in recent years, but Jean-François Caubet, the director of Renault Sport F1, believes that the limit is four teams - a number that will be reached as of 2012.
Renault powered two teams in 2010 – Red Bull and Renault, this figure increased to three this season with the supply of a Renault engine to Team Lotus – which will become Caterham F1 from 2012. Next year, the French engine manufacturer will see a fourth team join its fold: Williams F1, bringing the number of teams powered by Renault to four, or one-third of the grid.
Rumors have surfaced about a possible switch for some teams to a Renault engine block – notably HRT. But Jean-François Caubet revealed yesterday during the FIA press conference that Renault Sport F1 would probably not supply engines to more than four Formula 1 teams in the future because it could harm engine reliability and performance – more teams meaning more work for the men at Viry-Châtillon.
Last year, we had two teams. This year, we have three teams, next year we will have four. I think this will be the last step because the problem is not having five or six teams, but providing a good engine and having a good technical relationship with all the teams. To have good reliability, I think four is the best solution, explained Jean-François Caubet.
