Renault becomes threatening about the 2013 engine

While the technical regulations for 2013 are slow to gain unanimity, Jean-François Caubet, Renault’s sporting director, reaffirms the company’s support for the 1.6-liter 4-cylinder turbo engine and explains the reasons in the pages of Autosport: “We told Jean Todt and Bernie Ecclestone that we were pushing for the introduction of the new engine because, when we decided to stay in F1, the three conditions were very clear for the board of directors: the first was the switch to more relevant engine technology, in order to strengthen the link between Formula One and our products, secondly, there was the cost reduction, and thirdly, performance.”

For the French, if these last two conditions have been met, the first is still slow to materialize: « We have halved the costs, we have performed well with Red Bull Racing and Renault, but the relevance issue [in relation to the automotive market] is a key point for us. We know what Ferrari, Mercedes, and Cosworth think about it, and we have many meetings with manufacturers, but today, we do not want to change our position. »

Indeed, while Mercedes and Cosworth remain open to regulatory changes, albeit concerned about costs and commercial aspects, Ferrari is the strongest opponent to this regulation, which would force it to produce small-displacement engines, clashing with the Italian firm’s brand image. Thus, after having threatened last September to leave the championship to enter the Le Mans Series or American Le Mans Series, the men from Maranello, according to *Auto Motor und Sport*, could attack the FIA in the coming weeks for violating the Concorde Agreements. These agreements, signed in August 2009 and valid until December 31, 2012, lay the groundwork for cost reduction, which Ferrari argues would be undermined by this new technical regulation.

The FIA is struggling to impose consensus among engine manufacturers with different markets and vocations, and whatever the final decision, the FIA will displease someone and could even lose one of its historic engine manufacturers, as Jean-François Caubet barely veiledly threatens: “I told Bernie Ecclestone and Jean Todt that today we are in the red zone because we have no idea what the future of Renault will be made of. […] We don’t want to quit Formula One, but if we don’t stick to the new regulations or if they change, we will lose control of the situation and it could become a problem for the Board of Directors.”

However, at the end of the last World Council in Barcelona, the FIA had left the door open to a possible postponement of the engine regulations, giving itself until June 30 at the latest to redefine the effective date of the technical regulations. In this regard, Jean-François Caubet argues that it is a matter of credibility since expenses have already been incurred for the F1 2013 season: We cannot explain to the board in December that the new engine will be like this, then in November say it will only arrive in 2015. […] We have already spent ten million dollars on the new engine, we have 20 people working on it at Renault: can you imagine sending them away?

And the director of Renault Sport reminds us of the investment the manufacturer makes in Formula One: « The cost for Renault in Formula One is about one hundred million euros and one cannot change direction [technical] just like that. We informed Nissan of what the future of F1 would be and left the door open for Nissan and Infiniti for an entry into Formula 1. For them, it’s a long-term strategy, not just communication. They were following us for the engine change and, today, we do not know where we stand. »

We do not want an open conflict. We do not want to use the media to initiate hostilities, but today, we are in the red zone » concludes Jean-François Caubet.