Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsOpinion

Renault must revive dying F1 - Briatore

Former Renault F1 boss Flavio Briatore has urged the French manufacturer to show its ambitions and aim for success in 2016.

Renault chief executive Carlos Ghosn has warned against expecting immediate success from the team however, believing it will take the better part of three years to for the manufacturer to be competitive again.

But Briatore, who was forced to resign from the ING Renault team back in 2009 as the instigator of 2008 Singapore GP race-fixing scheme, believes F1's current state of affairs, with Mercedes in a world of its own, requires Renault to be back in the winner's circle as early as possible.

"Three years is too long," Briatoire told La Gazetto dello Sport.

"Formula One is dying and Renault needs to be competitive before then. In saying that, they need to rebuild everything: reinforce the team's technical structure in Enstone, where there's a lot of good people, as well as the engine department at Viry-Chatillon. It won't be easy.

"If Ghosn has decided to take this step, it obviously means he will put adequate resources into the project. It's certainly good news for Renault, and for all of Formula 1."

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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.