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No Brexit contingency plan for Renault - Abiteboul

Renault Sport F1 has not devised a contingency plan as a result Great-Britain's retreat from the European Union, says Cyril Abiteboul.

The French manufacturer splits its F1 efforts between its engine factory at Viry-Chatillon in France and its team's British base at Enstone.

Abiteboul insisted that the longer term impact of Brexit on Renault was still uncertain, but in the short term, British-based teams with sponsorship contracts in dollars had seen an immediate benefit due to the weaker pound.

"We have to see long-term how that evolves because that is not a situation that is sustainable," said the French manager.

"Then we will have to look at the movement of staff, because clearly we need to attract talent from everywhere around the world and we need to make sure that the UK remains a place that is welcoming talents from wherever they are.

"We have lots of movement of staff between France and the UK. That’s something we will look at carefully."

Renault has boosted its staff in Enstone since it took the works from Lotus at the end of 2015, expecting to reach some 650 employees by the end of this year.

Abiteboul said that the team was implementing  its five-year development plan as scheduled.

"When it comes to contingency plans...we don’t really have a plan as we are building new buildings in Enstone in the UK, we don’t really have a plan to move that we are currently building somewhere else," he said.

"We are still assuming that people will be reasonable and we trust the UK to protect their industry and motorsport is an important industry for the UK."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

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