Formula 1's "winter of change continued on Wednesday" with Renault and Team Principal Frederic Vasseur "parting company" a day after champion Mercedes announced the departure of Technical Dir Paddy Lowe, according to Alan Baldwin of REUTERS. Although "likely to be unconnected," the two exits provided "further evidence of a major pre-season shake-up of the paddock landscape." McLaren had "already parted company" with Chair Ron Dennis, while engineering head Pat Symonds left Williams at the end of last year. The Manor team is "meanwhile facing an uncertain future after going into administration this month." Renault said that the split with Vasseur "was by mutual consent." It "promised more information" when it unveils the '17 car on Feb. 21 (REUTERS, 1/11). The BBC's Andrew Benson reported the move "comes after months of claims by sources of a difficult relationship" between Vasseur and Renault Sport Managing Dir Cyril Abiteboul. But a company statement added that Renault and Vasseur expected to work together again in "a new form in the future." Renault added that the team "would continue to be managed" by President Jerome Stoll and Abiteboul (BBC, 1/11).
