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Formula One 2016


JasonM

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Renault is poised to confirm it will remain in Formula 1 after finally completing its purchase of Lotus, Autosport understands.

Almost 10 weeks after announcing it had signed a letter of intent regarding the potential acquisition of Lotus, and months after negotiations initially started, it now appears the final hurdles have been crossed and the deal has been signed.

Over the course of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, the deal appeared to be in the balance, with talks taking place between F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and Renault Sport president Jerome Stoll.

On the table was the need to find a compromise solution over Renault receiving a share of the constructors' championship bonus and historical payments.

That resulted in Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn spending the last few days assessing Ecclestone's final financial offer, with the 61-year-old believed to have now given the green light.

In means Renault will be back in F1 as a constructor for the first time since 2011, returning to Enstone where it enjoyed many years of success.

Over the past few weeks Renault staff have already been working in a number of areas at the team's facilities, which have altered markedly over the preceding four years.

"I've obviously my steer on it, but as far as I'm concerned they [Renault] are buying a much better team than when they left," Lotus CEO Matthew Carter told Autosport.

"For all their faults, and people have had lots to say about Genii and its ownership, but they've invested heavily in the place.

"From when Renault sold the team, the windtunnel is much improved, there is now a driver-in-the-loop simulator, while other areas of the factory have been upgraded.

"That was all done prior to me arriving. Since I arrived, from the financial side, whilst it has been super-challenging - certainly the last few months - they're picking up a business that is in pretty good shape financially.

"I always try and look at things from both sides, and it always seemed like a good deal from day one.

"It has been frustrating that it has taken so long to get it over the line, but they have bought a team that really can compete.

"As far as I'm concerned - and we've shown it - we can compete on a budget as well, without the hundreds of millions of pounds from the big boys."

The latter point was underlined by Lotus finishing sixth in the constructors' championship, even though there was very little car development in the second half of the season while the Renault talks were ongoing.

Carter added: "I'm sure you saw the new nose we managed to get to Abu Dhabi.

"That nose had been virtually ready for six months, but it was never a priority to get that onto the car because of the way we have been running the place.

"It's testament to the team, to the people at Enstone, that we have been able to do what we have done."

Red Bull Tag Heuer announcement on Twitter

Red Bull has dropped a hint it is to run with a Tag Heuer-branded engine for the 2016 Formula 1 season.

After months of uncertainty and failed negotiations with various potential power unit partners, Red Bull is close to officially announcing its plans for next year.

The understanding is it has renegotiated its contract with Renault after serving notice earlier this year it no longer wished to continue for the final season in '16.

After recently poaching luxury watchmaker Tag Heuer as a sponsor from McLaren, it now appears as if the name will again appear on an engine, as it did with the British team in the 1980s.

Via Twitter, Red Bull issued a tweet with the words 'Swiss engineering to close the gap next season', 'Tag Heuer and Infiniti Red Bull Racing 2016'.

It is accompanied by a picture of a team of four engineers, wearing Tag Heuer branded white coats, looking into a Red Bull, minus the engine.

When asked about the engine deal over the course of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, in one of his remarks team principal Christian Horner said: "I don't think Ron Dennis will be very happy."

McLaren ran TAG-badged, Porsche-supplied turbo engines from late 1983, starting with the MP4/1E, through to the MP4/3 of '87.

Horner added over the Abu Dhabi GP weekend that Red Bull is back on schedule with its 2016 preparations now its engine situation has been resolved.

"We've designed four different variants of it [chassis]," said Horner.

"But with next year being fairly static with the rules, it is very much an evolution.

"It's made the timescales much tighter, but the whole team has done a super job at working tremendously hard on the hours to get us back on schedule."

Horner also believes Red Bull has proved over the second half of 2015 it is still capable of producing a top chassis in F1.

"What's been really satisfying is that from since Silverstone onwards the chassis has been right there at any opportunity and in any sector not dominated by straightline speed," added Horner.

"If you look at the last sector in Abu Dhabi and the wing levels we were running in comparison to some of our opponents, it was enormously impressive.

"It demonstrated the class of the chassis."

Pirelli has confirmed a team's tyre choice prior to a Formula 1 grand prix in 2016 will be kept confidential until a fortnight beforehand.

Following a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Paris on Wednesday, the FIA confirmed that from '16 there will be greater freedom when it comes to tyre selection.

With the introduction of the new ultra-soft, there will be five dry compounds available, with three to be selected in advance for each race weekend, rather than the two at present.

From the three, the teams will then select two, with Pirelli revealing the choices within each team could vary, with each driver using a different allocation.

Pirelli has also announced the teams will make their choices within a deadline set by the Italian manufacturer.

The teams will first communicate its choices to the FIA, which will in turn inform Pirelli so they know how many tyres to produce.

The choices for each car will remain secret until two weeks before a race.

If a team does not meet the deadline, the choice will be made for it by the FIA.

Once the choices for each car have been made, the FIA will continue to assign the tyres randomly via a barcode, as is the case currently.

GP2 is also set to be renamed Formula Two from the 2016 season.

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Renault announces return to Formula 1 in 2016
December 03, 2015 | ID: 73985
  • Carlos Ghosn announces his decision that Renault will return to Formula 1 with its own team for 2016 season.
  • Renault, 12-time Constructors’ Champion with nearly 40 years in the sport, is an iconic brand in Formula 1 and intends to play an active role in the sport’s development.
  • F1 is a technology showcase and accelerates development of Renault’s innovation and range of sports cars.

Following the September announcement of the signing of a Letter of Intent with Lotus, teams at Renault continued to evaluate the possibility of a return to Formula 1. Particular attention was paid to competing successfully with its own team in a financially sound way starting in 2016.

“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 1, starting 2016. The final details supplied by F1’s main stakeholders gave us the confidence to accept this new challenge. Our ambition is to win--even if it will take some time,” said Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO, Renault.

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 the Lotus F1 Team in the shortest timeframe possible. The principal contracts were signed on December 3, 2015. The Lotus F1 Team effectively stands out as the best partner. Renault and Lotus F1 have known each other for 15 years and were world champions together in 2005 and 2006.

Renault has had uninterrupted involvement in Formula 1 for almost 40 years. In 1977, it revolutionised the championship with the introduction of turbocharging, a technique that soon became the norm in the sport. Renault has since taken part in more than 600 grand prix, claiming 168 race wins, 12 Constructors’ titles and 11 Drivers’ crowns.

Renault’s decision to continue its involvement in Formula 1 is confirmation that it sees motorsport as an essential part of the brand’s identity. Formula 1 is the ultimate symbol of the passion for automobiles. Passion defines Renault as expressed by its brand signature, ‘Passion for Life’. In addition to attracting many customers, Formula 1 also fuels employee motivation. As the pinnacle of motor sport, Formula 1 demands technological and operational excellence. The championship serves as a showcase for the technological expertise that Renault dials into its products for the benefit of its customers.

Formula 1 is a means for Renault to accelerate development and remain at the forefront of the sport’s technological progress. It simultaneously allows Renault to build bridges between the advanced technologies seen in the world championship and its road cars, particularly in the fields of electric and hybrid vehicles. Consistent with its commitment to F1, Renault will develop its R.S. range by stepping up investment in order to be active on every continent and in even more segments with vehicles that meet the needs of their different markets.

Formula 1 serves to promote awareness of the Renault brand and its image in all its markets across the world. Formula 1 is one of the sports that enjoys the most media coverage worldwide thanks to a following on five continents, particularly in emerging markets. It attracts 450 million television viewers annually and its scope for growth is enormous thanks to opportunities founded on new technologies, social networks, video games, etc. that have yet to be fully exploited.

In January, we will provide more detailed information about Renault’s F1 programme ahead of the 2016 championship that begins next March.

 

It's official, Renault is returning as a constructors team.

Edited by Jasonmufc
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I mean, the paperwork STILL isn't technically finalized...

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Renault chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn has confirmed the manufacturer will return to Formula 1 in 2016 as a full-time works outfit.

Following six months of protracted negotiations, Renault today signed principal contracts with regard a takeover of the Lotus F1 team, as earlier reported by Autosport.

It has confirmed that work continues on finalising the terms of the acquisition, believed to be worth €100m, "in the shortest timeframe possible".

Announcing the return, Ghosn said: "Renault had two options: to come back at 100 per cent or leave.

"After a detailed study, I have decided that Renault will be in Formula 1, starting 2016.

"The final details supplied by F1's main stakeholders gave us the confidence to accept this new challenge.

"Our ambition is to win--even if it will take some time."

But still, it is all but official now and it is absolutely great news. Cannot afford to lose any more outfits off of the grid, let alone one of the Enstone team's stature.

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Well my article came directly from the Renault world news feed, so I guess it's about 99.99% finalized because I doubt Renault would make that news report if they weren't perfectly certain of the fact. Else it would make them look pretty stupid.

But i'm glad to see another constructor jump into the competition, Renault was the drizzling shit in the current part of the V6 area so maybe being an actual constructor gives them the motivation to put forth an actually decent engine.

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Red Bull has announced it will run TAG Heuer-branded Renault engines for the 2016 Formula 1 season.

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 2016.

Next year the team's challenger will be known as the Red Bull Racing-Tag Heuer RB12.

The news comes after Renault chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn confirmed the manufacturer will return to Formula 1in 2016 as a full-time works outfit, taking over Lotus.

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.

McLaren ran TAG-badged, Porsche-supplied turbo engines from late 1983, starting with the MP4/1E, through to the MP4/3 of '87.

Speaking about the announcement, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said: "TAG Heuer has been an icon in the world of Formula 1 for many years and we're delighted that they've chosen to continue their association with the sport by teaming up with us.

"Our shared values of innovation and a desire to stand out from the crowd make this one of the most exciting partnerships in F1.

"We are also pleased to see Renault confirm its long-term commitment to F1 and would like to thank them for their contribution to the team since 2007.

"Their technical partnership with Ilmor gives us confidence, and we look forward to the 2016 season."

The deal includes TAG Heuer becoming official timekeeper, official watch partner and team performance partner from next season as part of a multi-year agreement.

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Yup. All RBR's own doing though! Literally nothing likable about that team, Ricciardo aside.

Renault and Ilmor will increase the level of their working relationship from the 2016 Formula 1 season onwards.

The two companies have worked together this season in a bid to help Renault close the gap to Mercedes and Ferrari but each piece of work has been handled on a one-off basis.

Following the news Renault will make Lotus its works team and continue to supply Red Bull with engines, albeit it branded as TAG Heuer units, it has now emerged Renault will strengthen its ties with Ilmor.

It is understood Ilmor will be a contractor to Renault Sport F1, aiding development of the power unit and have a more structured and consistent involvement with the project.

Ilmor, like other contractors AVL, Mecachrome and Magneti Marelli, will work directly for and under Renault.

Back in the early 1990's, Mario Illien played a key role in helping his then-Ilmor company develop the Mercedes engine that went on to achieve title success with McLaren.

He then focused on IndyCar and MotoGP as part of special projects work before working as a consultant for Renault this season to help brainstorm improvements.

With regards the Red Bull project, it is understood Renault will supply the team with the same engine as its works outfit.

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Toro Rosso has completed a deal with Ferrari to use a 2015-spec Formula 1 engine next season.

Both Red Bull-owned teams were without a power supply for 2016 after requesting to end their deals with Renault at the end of the season.

Toro Rosso opened talks during the season with Ferrari over the possibility of a supply to reignite a partnership that previously ran between 2007 and 2013.

It is understood the deal was done before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend but it required a number of other things to fall into place before an announcement.

The first hurdle was cleared on Wednesday when the FIA granted permission for Ferrari to supply Toro Rosso with a 2015-spec unit.

The current regulations do not allow for two different specifications of power unit from one manufacturer to be used in a single season, with special dispensation required from the FIA.

After the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Toro Rosso driver Carlos Sainz Jr said he was looking forward to having "an even more Italian team" next year.

"It's looking better," he said before Toro Rosso's plans were confirmed. "We might have a bit more horsepower.

"When everyone just flies past you it's very desperate.

"It can only get better and I have full trust that Toro Rosso will do a step forward in terms of reliability, pitstops, and more grip.

"We have a good chance for next year."

On Friday morning, Red Bull announced it would continue to use Renault power next season, although the engine will be badged by TAG-Heuer.

It followed Renault's announcement it will make Lotus its works-outfit in 2016.

Ferrari and Toro Rosso released short statements confirming the agreement, adding that track testing of the new combination will begin at pre-season testing in Barcelona.

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Mercedes is taking legal action against an employee it has accused of stealing confidential data and information ahead of a move to Formula 1 rival Ferrari.

In a High Court filing, revealed by Bloomberg and seen by Autosport, Benjamin Hoyle, due to join Ferrari at the start of next year, is being sued by Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP).

HPP is demanding Hoyle, who was employed in December 2012 as one of four team leaders in the company's F1 engineering department, be denied joining Ferrari or another F1 team until after the conclusion of the 2016 F1 season.

HPP is also demanding Hoyle hand over all documents relating to the matter, be served an injunction preventing him from using any information, as well as pay costs relating to investigation work carried out, compensation and legal fees.

Hoyle served notice on his contract, due for expiry at the end of this month, in May 2014, soon after which HPP became aware he intended to join Ferrari.

In April 16 this year Hoyle was informed, both verbally and via letter, he would be assigned to non-F1 projects, switching over to Mercedes' DTM programme, as HPP "wished to manage the intellectual property" he was exposed to.

Hoyle was provided with a new, wiped-clean laptop, email address and log-in details, denying him access to anything related to F1, and HPP restricted the areas of the building to which he was allowed.

HPP claims after this date, and prior to September 24 and after employing expert forensic computer analysts, Hoyle removed hardcopy documents containing confidential F1 information.

It is alleged Hoyle also searched for and saved on a laptop confidential F1 information stored on HPP's servers that included: a race report from this year's Hungarian Grand Prix; mileage and damage data relating to HPP's F1 engines from this season up until September 14, and files containing the code to decrypt raw race data files.

It is further alleged Hoyle also saved files related to the compressor performance of HPP's F1 engines, along with encrypted raw data files containing very detailed data about engine performance used to produce race reports.

The information was also apparently saved on Hoyle's personal mobile phone, micro SD cards, a tablet and an external hard drive.

Hoyle is also believed to have uploaded a confidential F1 document to an external website, as well as "read, reviewed, looked at or otherwise gained access to confidential F1 information".

HPP further claims Hoyle took "anti-forensic steps to conceal the fact he had saved" such information to his laptop, such as deleting files, running a disk fragmenter programme, and copying large numbers of innocuous files to 'fill' the hard drive, so overwriting any deleted material.

All of the above actions breach numerous clauses in Hoyle's contract, with HPP claiming they "were calculated to destroy or seriously damage the relationship of trust and confidence between the parties without reasonable or proper cause".

In particular, HPP claim that due to Hoyle's "unlawful conduct" both he and Ferrari "have gained an unlawful advantage".

"Legal action is underway involving Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains Ltd and an employee," Mercedes said in a statement.

"The company has taken the appropriate legal steps to protect its intellectual property."

Renault are now allegedly preparing to throw a Mercedes-like war chest at F1

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Interesting to see Renault go all in when it comes to trying to get to the top of the standings, which probably means we're gonna get a Renault/Ferrari/Mercedes rivalry in a few years time.

Also makes me wonder about the rumours of them doing away with Pastor/Palmer as their driver duo, since they're a factory team and really apparently don't need the money Maldonado brings, and Palmer is just an average driver with little redeeming skill, especially in a team that looks to challenge for the top 5. And with the likes of Magnussen, Frijns, Vandoorne, and even Verge being without drives right now, there's enough quality talent on the market that could be built into an elite 1-2 duo for Renault.

Vandoorne has won GP2 easily last season, which means he's now in racing limbo seeing he can't drive in GP2 again and McLaren has done nothing to place him in a different car yet. K-Mag got axed by McLaren for the same reason, so he's free to go where he wants, and he's shown that he could hang with Jenson Button in 2014 with a podium in his first ever race... Frijns is in Formula E right now, but I'm sure he'd snap at the chance to get an F1 drive (and he's Dutch, I want more Dutch people in F1!)... And finally Jean Eric Vergne has 3 years of F1 experience and seeing he's a French national, that might make him a perfect driver for Renault to put their marketing machine behind.

Basically, I want to see Pastor axed anyways because he doesn't deserve an F1 seat, and if he did, i'd want to see the guy in a Manor being a non-factor (and giving Manor some financial support)

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I don't know if the recent Venezuelan elections will have a knock-on effect on Pastor. The government there may decide to funnel money away from their motorsport project. Either way I cannot see him remaining at Renault for 2017. He'll end up either out of F1 entirely, or at Sauber/Manor. As for Palmer - he isn't a terrible driver and he deserves his shot this year. But you're right - this is very much a transition year at Enstone - they have said themselves that 2016's challenger will essentially be a Lotus-Mercedes with a Renault engine strapped into the back.

A couple of articles looking at the all new formula 2017 cars.

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BBC Sport is to "reluctantly" end its Formula 1 television contract three years early as part of savings across the corporation.

Channel 4 will take on the BBC's F1 broadcast rights from next season.

"The current financial position of the BBC means some tough and unwanted choices have to be made," said Barbara Slater, the BBC's director of sport.

However, BBC Radio 5 live has extended its commentary rights for F1 until the 2021 season.

BBC Sport broadcast 10 live races of Briton Lewis Hamilton's world championship-winning season in 2015 with a one-hour build-up to each grands prix. It also offered extensive highlights of the nine other races.

But as part of a £150m gap in the corporation's finances from next year, BBC Sport was asked to deliver £35m of savings.

"A significant chunk of BBC Sport's savings target will be delivered through the immediate termination of our TV rights agreement for Formula 1," added Slater.

"Any decision to have to stop broadcasting a particular sport or sporting event is hugely disappointing and taken reluctantly.

"There are no easy solutions; all of the options available would be unpopular with audiences."

BBC Sport regained F1 rights from ITV in 2009 but - in another cost-saving move - had been sharing the broadcast rights with Sky Sports since the 2012 season.

"These are very challenging times for the BBC and sport is not immune to those financial pressures," added Slater.

Sad, but the right decision for the BBC. Least it'll be ad-free coverage.

 

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Renault has finally completed its takeover of Lotus and will officially compete in Formula 1 from 2016 as a works entrant.

The rubberstamping of the deal was effectively done on Monday at the High Court in London, with an insolvency petition formally dismissed.

Earlier this month Renault announced the signing of principal contracts with regard to it purchasing a majority stake in Lotus.

Both parties, however, were forced to head back to the High Court on December 7 to confirm to Justice Birrs a deal was all but concluded.

Lotus's case with HMRC, in respect of owing £2.7million in back PAYE, had twice previously been adjourned due to ongoing negotiations at the time with Renault.

Lotus then asked for a final 14 days to tie up all the loose ends with Renault, with payments to a long list of creditors - including HMRC - needing to be made, along with the signing of the all-important share purchase agreement [SPA].

Speaking to Autosport, Lotus CEO Matthew Carter said: "Everything has all gone through and is all completed. The payments to the creditors were released late last week.

"Today was effectively just a simple box-ticking exercise."

In court, lawyers representing Renault were able to inform Justice Birrs: "We have the keys, so to speak", allowing him to dismiss the case.

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DTM champion Pascal Wehrlein's chances of a 2016 Manor Formula 1 drive are diminishing, according to Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff.

The German, Mercedes' F1 reserve this season alongside his DTM campaign, is a contender for a grand prix race seat with Manor.

When asked in Vienna about how negotiations with Manor were progressing, Wolff said the suggested figure of €4million that Mercedes would pay for Wehrlein's drive now "seems by far not enough".

GP2 race winner Rio Haryanto has also been linked with a Manor drive, having been affiliated with the team in its Virgin/Marussia era.

The Indonesian is rumoured to have £10million worth of backing from his national government, a figure that left Wolff concerned.

"With the amount that was in the media to buy a ride like this you destroy F1," he said.

If Wehrlein misses out on a 2016 F1 promotion, he is likely to defend his DTM title.

The Manor situation is preventing Mercedes from finalising its DTM line-up, with GP3 champion and marque protege Esteban Ocon keen to move into the touring car series.

Mercedes' DTM rivals BMW and Audi have already firmed up unchanged driver rosters for 2016.

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1 hour ago, Lineklaus said:

DTM champion Pascal Wehrlein's chances of a 2016 Manor Formula 1 drive are diminishing, according to Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff.

The German, Mercedes' F1 reserve this season alongside his DTM campaign, is a contender for a grand prix race seat with Manor.

When asked in Vienna about how negotiations with Manor were progressing, Wolff said the suggested figure of €4million that Mercedes would pay for Wehrlein's drive now "seems by far not enough".

GP2 race winner Rio Haryanto has also been linked with a Manor drive, having been affiliated with the team in its Virgin/Marussia era.

The Indonesian is rumoured to have £10million worth of backing from his national government, a figure that left Wolff concerned.

"With the amount that was in the media to buy a ride like this you destroy F1," he said.

If Wehrlein misses out on a 2016 F1 promotion, he is likely to defend his DTM title.

The Manor situation is preventing Mercedes from finalising its DTM line-up, with GP3 champion and marque protege Esteban Ocon keen to move into the touring car series.

Mercedes' DTM rivals BMW and Audi have already firmed up unchanged driver rosters for 2016.

Says the bloke whose team has been staunchly against money saving in the F1 because they're afraid it'll ruin their dominant position.

They're getting outspend, and now they're not happy about it, fuck off Merc, if you gave enough shits you'd cough up the cash.

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