Renault stays in Formula One

Jean-François Caubet, interim general director of the Renault team, confirmed that the French team will indeed be present on the Formula 1 grids next season, revealing that its budget for 2010 has been accepted.

The board of directors of Renault met this Wednesday, the day Toyota announced its withdrawal from F1, to decide the future of Renault in F1, and the decision turned out to be positive.

It is not surprising when we examine the elements already at our disposal. Robert Kubica is under contract with the team, Red Bull has announced its intention to continue their partnership with Renault. Last but not least, the judgment of the World Motor Sport Council had been very lenient concerning the ‘crash-gate’ affair, which implied that in return, Renault had to participate in the F1 championship for the next two years.

“We have already contracted our drivers,” explained Jean-François Caubet. “We have had our budget approved and we are registered in the world championship. The 2010 season has already started. Carlos Ghosn is asking us to return to a good level, and for that, we need to re-stabilize Enstone and Viry-Chatillon.”

« Personally, I believe that being 3rd is a reasonable objective, » he announced. « It’s Bernard [Rey] who signed and gave us a delegation. With Robert, it was simple. We explained our objectives, our organization, and he was immediately enthusiastic. He knew there were some risks, but which teams don’t have risks? » He further added about Robert Kubica that he was: « Someone who scores. »

Jean-François Caubet also talks about cost reduction. “We reduced our workforce at Enstone by 70 people in January and February 2009,” he explained. “We have gone below the 2010 limit set by the FOTA objectives. This time, we told Bob [Bell]: ‘Listen, if you want results, we give you the top to bridge the gap.’ So, we are going to rehire some aerodynamic managers to get back on track.”

The general manager of the Renault F1 Team also reflects on the reasons for Renault’s poor 2009 season: « Everyone made a mistake. We put such pressure on cost reduction that we went too far. What happened is that we reduced the workforce on a voluntary basis. And we had a lot more volunteers than expected. So, we lost 70 people from a staff of 450. Then, we filled the gaps with young people… And that’s when we realize that experience is something exceptional. »