Renault Sport is making headway towards securing its future in Formula One, as the French constructor apparently favours the option of a Lotus F1 Team buy-out.
Renault would acquire 51% of Lotus’ shares, with Genii Capital founding partner Gérard Lopez keeping a stake of 49%.
Lotus F1 cars will still have Mercedes power units next season before the buy-out process becomes fully complete by 2017. This also means that both Red Bull and Toro Rosso will have to find a new engine partner beyond their current contracts.
Simultaneously, Renault Sport F1 and Renault Sport Technologies will merge to form a single department based at Viry-Châtillon, south of Paris. Current RSF1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul will be at the helm of the newly created structure with Renault ambassador Alain Prost serving as special F1 advisor.
The reorganisation will see a reshuffling of Renault’s entire range of motorsport activities, except for its involvement in Formula E through e.dams – a team co-owned by Prost.
World Series by Renault could thus become support events to other FIA-sanctioned championships, including WTCC, F3, and the future F2 – which would draw inspiration from the current Formula Renault 3.5 Series.
It remains to be seen whether such a major overhaul will happen as early as 2016, or more likely in 2017. More light is expected to be shed on Renault’s future plans during next week’s World Motor Sport Council meeting.
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