Is this the end for Renault F1?

[rubystone]

Riverside said:

toomuchbeer said:

All this spygate thing is confusing me really.

If you go to itvf1, DC has a column on there to which he says "STR had the same car as us this year but nowhere near the same performance". Now ignoring the performance bit, he clearly states that Torro Rosso were running the SAME car.!! How can that be?

Prodrive can not compete, running a McLaren, but it seems STR and Super Aguri can run the cars of other teams. Super Aguri IIRC run the previous years Honda's.

But if STR are running the SAME car, how can this not be the IP issue too?

IIRC it's because they use different engine suppliers so the cars are deemed to be different enough. Not a terribly clever thing for DC to say all the same though, I'm pretty sure that's not the official stance of RBR.

I thought that their neat sidestep by having the cars built by Red Bull Technology (ies?) was their way out of this? I can't work out how each team can claim to own the IP though (which I think I'm correct in stating is a "must" under the constructor rules) since Newey designs the cars and as I understand it, works for and is paid by, RBT...

I personally think that the rules need to be black or white. Prodrive were to enter based on proposals made, what, 2 years ago/ No doubt they have spent money on legal fees and PR etc. It is to their credit that they haven't made a big fuss about this and I am sure that's why they won't be fined or otherwise censured.

[nioks]

When does all smoke and mirrors kick off?

[flemke]

nioks said:

When does all smoke and mirrors kick off?

The hearing will be held tom'w in Monaco. Not sure whether verdict will be announced then, or poss Friday. It probably will depend on whether they will have decided on verdict prior to the hearing.

[nioks]

Should have a verdict by lunchtime then

[flemke]

nioks said:

Should have a verdict by lunchtime then

Correct.
Lunchtime today.

[Altrezia]

flemke said:

nioks said:

Should have a verdict by lunchtime then

Correct.
Lunchtime today.

[toomuchbeer]

[anonymous-user]

johnph said:

If Renault quit F1 i reckon they'll go to Le Mans.

With a diesel prototype.

le mans reverts back to close cockpit cars in 2010 so it could be an interesting diversion, certainly audi may have benefitted from their sportscar success with regads to road car technology.

as for renault's woes, i think Flav is too pally with max and Co for them to get the same level of fine. i think Max took the mclaren thing too personally and wanted to simply "get" ron! anyone with a rational mind could see that there was far more to the issue than max was prepared to accept...

[johnph]

I would expect Renault to do a combination of some of the following:
Le Mans diesel P1 (already mentioned)
S2000 touring car (Laguna)
Rallying (take on Citroen?)

Given the noises Ghosn has been making about F1 and whether it is worth the money its these kind of things that i'd expect Renault to do.

Edited by johnph on Wednesday 5th December 14:42