Renault Engines Officially with Lotus F1 Team in 2011

Photo Credit: Lotus Racing

Having been the worst kept secret of the Formula 1 paddock (if it was ever a real secret), Lotus Racing has confirmed on Friday the 2011 edition of their grand prix cars who run with Renault power. Furnished by Renault Sport, the French company will replace the Cosworth powerplants Lotus used to reenter the Formula 1 tour.

As the announcement broke, Lotus Racing's team principal Tony Fernandes is quite aware for engine deal's announcement came as no shock to any Formula 1 observer. “I am absolutely delighted that we can now officially talk about the partnership with Renault. There has obviously been a great deal of speculation about which engine will be powering our cars from 2011 and now the announcement has been made I think everyone can see just how ambitious we really are." Fernandes said in the team's news release. The Renault engine deal was first thrown through the rumour mill during late summer but the speculation was heated up later when Lotus Racing announced they would receive gearboxes and other components from Red Bull Racing (a team powered by Renault engines).

Mike Gascoyne, who worked with the Renault F1 as a technical director for three seasons starting in 2001, was enthusiastic about this new involvement with his old employer. "Having worked with Renault before I know exactly what they will bring to our team and I am delighted that they will be playing an integral role in the next chapter of our story. The engine itself gives our designers, engineers and drivers an excellent platform to work with - it is very drivable, has good reliability and comes with a track support team who have a wealth of experience and knowledge. We are all looking forward to working with Renault and are very excited about the future for our partnership and our team.”

When the Lotus team joins the Formula 1 grid in 2011 with Renault power, the ignition will spark a reuniting of French and English companies. Among the many engine manufacturers the original Team Lotus utilized was Renault power between 1983 to 1986. As fate would have it, Lotus' founder Colin Chapman had negotiated the French engines in 1982 just prior to his untimely passing in December of that year. Partnered together in hopes to carry on the accolades under the English Formula 1 team's creator, the pairing united during times when future Formula 1 legends Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell drove Team Lotus colours (which were than John Players Tobacco black and gold). On the tail-end of their 4 seasons of Formula 1 action, Lotus-Renault's grabbed 5 grand prix victories (4 by Senna and 1 by Elio de Angelis). It seems fitting that the official announcement of Renault rejoining Lotus comes while the 2010 Formula 1 schedule blitzes into Ayrton Senna's home country of Brazil.

A second-year team with a full season of knowledge and in-race experience, the Lotus Racing (or Team Lotus) organization will be an exciting outfit to watch throughout the 2011 season.

Lotus Racing and Red Bull Racing Enter into F1 Gearbox Deal

Photo Credit: Lotus Racing

As the 2010 Formula 1 season has methodically drawn to a conclusion with four events still left to run, the freshman efforts of Virgin, HRT F1 and Lotus Racing remains in their own, slower class. In fact, not one car from the three before-mentioned team has even finished in the top-10 of any Formula 1 event. Running spec Xtrac gearboxes and identical Cosworth engines, these teams can operate on a lower-budget but   A tough deal for any hard-working auto racing team to accept season-long, the structurally-strongest member of the freshman contingency of Lotus Racing is already planning a radical shake up for 2011.

Having announced just recently the adoption of the 'Team Lotus' moniker starting next year, the Formula 1 organization has also been shopping for some new competitive hardware, namely an all-new engine. Late last week, Lotus Racing powerplant change for the 2011 season was confirmed  as the team and Cosworth confirmed a break up following the 2010 Formula 1 tour. Replacing Cosworth, questions on what engine manufacturer will supply the British racing green and yellow cars with power has fingered on the French automaker Renault.

Today, the Renault engines for 2011 seems all-but guaranteed through an indirect announcement relating to transmissions and other components. On their official Facebook site and Twitter, Lotus Racing presented a mild bombshell implying current Formula 1 constructor championship points leader Red Bull Racing will supply gearboxes and hydraulic systems to their efforts next season. Since Red Bull Racing runs Renault engines, it seems natural that Team Lotus will try to stay consistent with the dealer team.

Refurbishing their on-track commitment to Formula 1, this accompanies Lotus Cars' flashy appearance at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. Indeed, we should expect some big things from the once world-class sport cars builder.

Vitaly Petrov Joins Kubica in 2010 Renault F1 Team

Photo Credit: Renault F1 Team


As teams like Mercedes GP, Ferrari and McLaren F1 are taking the wraps off their competition machines, there are still a few organizations rushing through their final full-month of preparation for the 2010 Formula 1 season. The Renault F1 Team remained as one of the only returning Grand Prix teams yet to confirm drivers for both vehicles. Signing former BMW Sauber driver Robert Kubica before the end of the 2009 Formula 1 season, the Renault F1 Team waited until the 31st of January to add Kubica's teammate. Alongside the Polish driver, Renault has committed to F1 rookie Vitaly Petrov to pair with Kubica.

Making his first big mark in the Russian Lada Revolution Championship, Petrov won pole in every round in 2004 and the overall championship in 2005. His latest accomplishments have been some standout runs made in GP2 races for both the European and Asia series. The 26 year old Petrov's young career is highlighted last season by a runner-up spot in the major GP2 championship behind Nico Hülkenberg (Hulkenberg has been signed to drive for Williams F1 through 2010).



Photo Credit: Andrew Ferraro /LAT Photographic

Petrov's addition comes on the team's introduction of the Renault R30 race car in Valencia, Spain. A rookie set become the first Russian driver to compete on the full 2010 Formula 1 schedule, Vitaly Petrov name was no stranger to Grand Prix insiders. At the end of 2009, Petrov was highly rumoured to be behind the wheel of a race car belonging to Formula 1 newcomer Campos Meta.

Renault Firms Up Plans for 2010 F1 Season

Photo Credit: Renault F1 Racing

In the midst of still savage climate in auto racing as auto manufacturers continue to struggle for profitability, Formula 1 has experienced 3 major departures through the past two seasons (Honda, BMW and Toyota). Desiring some stability, the FIA took comfort with French auto maker Renault reaffirming its commitment to the ultra exotic open-wheel series for 2010. However, this renewal by Renault to powering the Formula 1 grid came with a concurring announcement changing the nature of their relationship in the sport.

Renault F1, the French auto maker's factory team, will now be majority-owned by a private investment partner entering into 2010. Genii Capital, a Luxembourg-based group known as specialists of new technologies and brand imaging bought what is called a 'large stake' of the Renault F1 operation as the Renault factory looks to getting the best value for their sponsorship as one of the most expensive sports on earth. Genii Capital may also be remembered from earlier this year when they unsuccessfully attempted to buy assets of the bankrupt camera innovator Polaroid. It's believed that the name of the team will continue to be Renault F1 for 2010. Robert Kubica has already been signed to drive in the upcoming Formula 1 season with a second driver still yet to be named.

Buying out Bennetton in 2002 to stake their corporate name on a Formula 1 team, Renault F1 took back-to-back constructor championships in 2005 and 2006 thanks largely to Fernando Alonso's driver crowns.

Coinciding with the sale of a major stake in their namesake Formula 1 team, Renault confirmed that Red Bull Racing will continue to run the French powerplants in 2010. Following Red Bull Racing's best grand prix season with 6 victories and a 2nd place in the manufacturer points standings in 2009, this move seemed like a natural. In fact, going into the new Formula 1 season,
the thriving Formula 1 team has retained the final major piece to enter the 2010 season with essentially the same team as the previous year. In fact, with Brawn GP undergoing a massive corporate reshuffling which includes driver changes and the rebranding as Mercedes Grand Prix, Red Bull Racing could theoretically be heading for a banner year on the 2010 Formula 1 circuit. Having existed solely as an engine supplier in the 1990s, the last F1 customer team to grab a constructors championship was Williams F1 in 1997. Disturbingly though, Renault dropped their official engine support of Formula 1 at the end of that season.

Without making firm plans beyond next year, Renault's planning for the grand prix 2010 season could either be viewed most negatively as a gradual step out of F1, making it the third time Renault withdrew from the sport. However, in a more positive mindset, it is possible that Renault reduced funding (coupled with FIA attempts to cut costs in F1) could provide a better long-term plan for seeing the diamond badge on the grand prix tour.

Vettel To Lead Formula 1 field at Japanese Grand Prix

Since the last Japanese Grand Prix was held at Honda's Suzuka circuit in 2006, the Formula One grid along with Formula One as an entity is heavily altered. With the 2009 Japanese Grand Prix returning to Suzuka after a two season stint on Toyota's Fiji Speedway track, this race looks again to make a sizable impact the complexion of driver and manufacturer standing as it had years prior. Three races remaining and Jenson Button enjoying a 15 point lead over fellow Brawn GP driver Rubens Barrichello, the championship is well within mathematical reach for the veteran Brazilian to triumph over the determined Brit.

Saturday Qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix in the dry was a departure from the weather of the previous day where remnants of storm system Ketsana soaked the Suzuka circuit. With the track conditions of Saturday being radically different than Friday, teams were desperate to get a handle on the faster track. Leading to three separate on track accidents. The most frightening as these incident occurred as Timo Glock sustained a heavy impact with 18th and final corner tire barriers on his first outlap. Conscious following the high-speed impact, Glock was taken to hospital as a precaution. Suffering only a cut on his left leg, the Toyota F1 team had test driver Kamui Kobayashi on standby before the Timo Glock's accident following concerns of a persistent illness Glock had on Friday in Japan. The safety and track crews at the Suzuka race course were busy all through the session which was complicated by several Formula One drivers who weren't addressing local yellow flags. While attempting to maintain what might have been their fastest laps in qualifying, the FIA reacted by handing down penalties demoting four drivers four positions down the grid. Receiving these penalties includes Adrian Sutil who had just set fastest time in the qualifying session. The Brawn GP pair of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello as well as Fernando Alonso with Renault are the others. Torro Rosso's Sebastien Buemi and the McLaren-Mercedes of Heikki Kovalainen have also had their qualifying results modified with five spot deductions for other incidents.

When grid scoring for the Japanese Grand Prix was modified, Team Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel captured the top spot with homeland manufacturer Toyota piloted into second spot by Jarno Trulli. Reigning World Champion Lewis Hamilton placed his McLaren-Mercedes in 3rd place while Nick Heidfeld rests in 4th driving the BMW Sauber. Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen starts 5th in a difficult season for the Italian team. On the otherhand, Williams' 6th place in qualifying with Nico Rosberg is a great result for a team once the toast of Formula One Grand Prix racing.

A true of two fortunes, not registering times in the session was Vettel's teammate Mark Webber. Webber's Team Red Bull chassis was too damaged to compete in qualifying following a crash in a practice just prior. The 2009 German Grand Prix winner will have to start from the pit lane in his Renault-engined Red Bull car.

In the Eastern time zone, the Japanese Grand Prix is set to start at 1:00 am Sunday Morning.


2009 Japanese Grand Prix Qualifying Order


1. Sebastian Vettel- Red Bull
2. Jarno Trulli- Toyota
3. Lewis Hamilton- McLaren
4. Nick Heidfeld- BMW Sauber
5. Kimi Raikkonen- Ferrari
6. Nico Rosberg- Williams
7. Robert Kubica- BMW Sauber
8. Adrian Sutil- Force India
9. Rubens Barrichello- Brawn GP
10. Jaime Alguersuari- Toro Rosso
11. Jenson Button- Brawn GP
12. Heikki Kovalainen- McLaren
13. Giancarlo Fisichella- Ferrari
14. Sebastien Buemi- Toro Rosso
15. Kazuki Nakajima-
16. Romain Grosjean- Renault
17. Fernando Alonso- Renault
18. Vitantonio Liuzzi- Force India
19. Timo Glock- Toyota
20. Mark Webber- Red Bull

Long time Renault F1 resigns amid Race Fixing charges by FIA

In a team statement, ING Renault F1 formally announced that the team's principal Flavio Briatore has resigned from the team he had long been associated with running in Formula 1 after an allegation of fixing the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. It has been implied that the ING Renault F1 team instructed driver Nelson Piquet Jr to spin out in order to draw a safety car condition to aid teammate Fernando Alonso in winning the race. With ING Renault F1's executive director of engineering Pat Symonds also parting with the team, him and Briatore are cited as the two who masterminded the incident against Formula 1 and the FIA's strict rules forbidding team orders in effecting the outcome of races.

This event was brought to the forefront September 4th, very shortly following ING Renault F1 driver Nelson Piquet Jr. release from the team after the Belgium Grand Prix. The timing has led some to consider Piquet Jr. whistle blowing to the FIA was spiteful for his parting with the team. In a statement posted on the 11th of September on the ING Renault F1 website, it was alleged that the race fixing scenario could have been created by Piquet as a malicious attempt to defraud his former team. Showing signs of becoming personal, this announcement also expressed that ING Renault F1 and Briatore himself would seek advice on filing criminal charges against Nelson Piquet Jr as well as his father.

A hearing is planned for Monday September 21th in front of the FIA World Motor Sport Council which will certainly be far from forgiving if Briatore and ING Renault F1 are found to be involved in giving team orders. Rules against team orders inside the FIA were created in 1998 after McLaren-Mercedes made a clearly orchestrated swap for the lead.

Known trivially as the biological father of Heidi Klum's first child, Flavio Briatore contributions to Formula 1 racing was as the team director for Benetton (the company which would eventually morph into ING Renault F1) and the fostering of modern F1 legend Michael Schumacher. After leaving Benetton in 1997, Briatore rejoined the factory-supported Benetton-turned Renault F1 team in 2000 and would play an important part in Fernando Alonso's two championships.