Renault finally confirmed its "takeover of the cash-strapped Lotus team after months of dithering," confirming its return to Formula 1 as a full works team, according to Daniel Johnson of the London TELEGRAPH. The news will come as a "huge relief to the 400 staff at Lotus’s factory in Enstone, Oxfordshire, which has been running on a shoestring budget all season." The takeover was "in doubt as recently as last weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix," with Renault and F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone "unable to agree on how much prize money the French manufacturer should receive." But Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn "finally announced the move everyone in Formula One had been hoping for late on Thursday night." Ghosn said, “Renault had two options -- to come back at 100 percent or leave. After a detailed study, I have decided that Renault will be in Formula One, starting 2016" (TELEGRAPH, 12/4). AUTOBLOG's Noah Joseph wrote as a full team, Renault "will take maximum benefit from its victories." The payback as an engine supplier "proved to be limited." The return on the investment "necessitated by the new engine regulations and the return in terms of image were low." Work "continues on finalizing the terms of the acquisition of Lotus F1 Team in the shortest timeframe possible." Renault's decision to continue its involvement in F1 is "confirmation that it sees motorsport as an essential part of the brand's identity" (AUTOBLOG, 12/4).
RED BULL ENGINE: AUTOSPORT's Lawrence Barretto wrote having "failed to secure an engine" from Mercedes, Ferrari or Honda, Red Bull "will stick with Renault for a 10th season." It is understood Red Bull has "renegotiated its contract with Renault after serving notice earlier this year it no longer wished to continue" for '16. After Red Bull recently "poached luxury watchmaker Tag Heuer as a sponsor from McLaren, the name will once again appear on an engine, as it did with the British team in the 1980s" (AUTOSPORT, 12/4).
TORO ROSSO ENGINE: REUTER's Alan Baldwin reported the Red Bull-owned Toro Russo team will use "year-old Ferrari engines" in F1 next season. Toro Rosso used Renault power units until this year, and the "switch was expected after Red Bull fell out with the French carmaker." Toro Rosso and Ferrari in a joint statement said, "Toro Rosso and Scuderia Ferrari have reached an agreement that will see our team use the current Ferrari power unit in the 2016 Formula One season" (REUTERS, 12/4). In a separate piece Baldwin wrote the Toro Rosso team said that "they would race next season with the same young line-up of Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz." Ferrari "supplied Toro Rosso" from '07-13. Current Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel "took his first F1 win with the team" in '08. Dutch driver Verstappen, who turned 18 during the season, "was the highest-placed rookie of the year with a best result of fourth." Spaniard Sainz, son and namesake of the former world rally champion, "also impressed and out-qualified his teammate over the course of the season" (REUTERS, 12/4).
INDEPENDENT ENGINE: MOTORSPORT's Jonathan Noble wrote Ecclestone said that he "still wants to push on with plans for an independent engine from 2017, despite the idea having been rejected by teams." Ecclestone and FIA President Jean Todt had "hoped to push through the idea of a cheaper independent engine, but it did not get the support it needed at an F1 Commission meeting last month." Ecclestone still thinks that the alternative engine plan "is the best way forward," and wants the rules to be changed to "allow it to happen." Ecclestone: "We have to change the rules to allow for the introduction of a cheap alternative engine. The new hybrid engines are simply too expensive. And we cannot wait" (MOTOSPORT, 12/4).
