Renault works team would be 'fantastic' - Gastaldi

Lotus F1 Team deputy team principal Federico Gastaldi says that he relishes the prospect of becoming part of a Renault works team.

The engine manufacturer has had two spells as a full constructor in Formula One, the first time from 1977 until 1985 and then later for a second stint starting in 2000 after it acquired the Enstone-based Benetton Formula team and went on to win back-to-back drivers and constructors championships with Fernando Alonso in 2005 and 2006.

Renault sold its stake in that team to the Genii Capital investment company at the end of 2010, which subsequently rebadged the squad with the iconic Lotus brand. However with the team currently in serious financial difficulty, there has been intensive speculation that Renault might repurchase the operation and return as a full-time constructor in 2016.

"It would be fantastic for the sport and a mega-positive note for Enstone to see their return," said Gastaldi, although he would not be drawn on the current state of ongoing negotiations between Lotus and Renault

"Until any deal is signed, sealed and delivered we keep focused on our current tasks," he insisted.

"It would be a very different project for Enstone and there’s been a lot of change over the past few years since they last had a full works team entry," he pointed out.

"Here in Enstone we’re used to adapting and making the most of situations. Certainly we would relish any opportunity to be a works team and [would] welcome them back."

His words echoed those of Lotus trackside operations director Alan Permane. "The team is incredibly excited about it," Pername told Sky Sports when asked about the prospect of becoming a works team again. "We would welcome them back with open arms obviously.

"We can build on what we have now, build on the chassis we have this year and then try to emulate what we did with Renault in 2005 and 2006 - that is what we want to do."

As well as Lotus, Renault has also been linked with possible purchases of Toro Rosso and Sauber over the last 12 months. Most recently the speculation has narrowed to Lotus and centred on when - rather than if - the company will repurchase its former works team.

However the situation is complicated by Renault's existing binding contracts with other teams including Red Bull and Toro Rosso to provide engines and a conflict of interest with some of Lotus' current big-name sponsors such as Venezuelan state-owned oil and natural gas company PDVSA. Even so, Renault says it is inching closer to a resolution.

"We are much further down the road and we are much closer to a conclusion and a decision," Renault Sport F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul said last week. "With Lotus we need to be extremely careful because it's no secret that the team has been struggling financially."

According to The Times newspaper, Formula One commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone personally stepped in to cover the team's £1.5m salary bill over the summer to keep the team afloat long enough for the takeover to go through.

"I thought I should cover the wages of the people there to make sure they were all right and so that Lotus would at least get to Spa," said Ecclestone. "But they really need to make progress with Renault now to make sure everything is okay."

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