Kimi waiting for Renault to invest in old Enstone F1 team?

[John S]

Lotus name to be dropped and team rebranded Renault.           

So is this what's holding him back from putting pen to paper on a deal, or just another Lopez pipe dream?     

Renault team name could soon be returning to Formula 1 after Lotus owner Gerard Lopez admitted he is pushing for the French manufacturer to become more involved in the team.

Whilst Renault quit the sport as a manufacturer team following the Singapore 'race fixing' scandal, it has remained involved as an engine supplier to multiple teams and has enjoyed much success.

However, despite the Renault powered Red Bull having won the previous three championships, it's engine supplier has received little in the way of recognition.

Sources close to both Lotus and Renault have suggested that the latter isn't too happy about this and is keen to earn greater praise from its involvement.

One suggestion put forward is for Renault to buy the team it once owned, Lotus. However this would be a costly exercise of which the company's shareholders wouldn't be too keen on.

Another suggestion, and one which seems quite likely, is for Renault to simply invest in Lotus, as Infiniti has done with Red Bull, re-brand the team as Renault, and reap the success, should it continue.

This is in fact what both Lopez and Kimi Raikkonen are hoping for, with the Finn keen to see a closer collaboration between the two before he signs a new contract.

"We understand what Kimi is waiting for," Lopez told 1news.ru.

"He is interested in what our relationship will be with Renault next year, things like that.

"The financial side is not a problem. What we are discussing is options that will allow us to establish a closer collaboration with Renault. Nothing more, nothing less."

Whilst nothing has been agreed yet, Lopez is confident Raikkonen will stay at Lotus.

"This [possible Renault deal] is all part of the negotiation process. I think it will happen soon enough.

"The chances that he [Raikkonen] will stay are very high. I really believe in it."

by Ryan Wood, F1times.co.uk, Today.

[cosworth151]

So we go from two Lotuses (Loti?) a couple of years ago to none?

[Willy]

Kimi would do well as the star attraction of a re-branded Renault Team. This would go along way to giving everyone involved more confidence that they paychecks would keep coming regularly.
Renault has proven the engine is up for the challenge now how about actually getting behind the team full stop.
This is not to say he is not doing well as star of Lotus but we all know this is just a name and there is no DNA of the original Lotus anywhere near this team.
Pay the man what you agreed, give him a reliable car and stand back and let him race.

[Scott]

Kimi would do well as the star attraction of a re-branded Renault Team. This would go along way to giving everyone involved more confidence that they paychecks would keep coming regularly.
Renault has proven the engine is up for the challenge now how about actually getting behind the team full stop.
This is not to say he is not doing well as star of Lotus but we all know this is just a name and there is no DNA of the original Lotus anywhere near this team.
Pay the man what you agreed, give him a reliable car and stand back and let him race.

If he isn't going to RBR, then I think he should stay with Lotus/Renault.   

[Jericoke]

I didn't realise that Infiniti had an ownership stake in RBR.

What a weird sport.  Red Bull owns two teams, one of which they share with Infiniti, which is controlled by Renault, who would also share a third team?

To be honest... if questions continue at Enstone, surely the name 'Briatore' is going to come up.

[F1fanaticBD]

That definitely make sense, and if Renault is involved, would we see a repeat of Mercedes-McLaren fall out?

Honestly after powering Red Bull to 3 consecutive Constructor's title, specially when they were huge benefited by the fuel-efficiency of the Renault engine, I think Renault deserves a bit more recognition. It would make sense if they want to be back in the Championship with their name.

And regarding the Lotus name, I guess there few people who just wanted to exploit the name Lotus and its rich history

[lkjohnson1950]

Infiniti is just a title sponsor, they do not own part of the team.

[cosworth151]

Infiniti is part of Nissan. Nissan and Renault are linked by cross-shareholdings. They refer to it as "The Renault-Nissan Alliance."

Back when Infiniti began its sponsorship of RBR, there was speculation that the Renault engines in the car would be re-badged Infiniti. Thankfully, nothing came of that.

[Jericoke]

Back when Infiniti began its sponsorship of RBR, there was speculation that the Renault engines in the car would be re-badged Infiniti. Thankfully, nothing came of that.

Why 'thankfully'?  Given how few F1 engines are historically made by the company with their name stamped on it, I don't really see the difference.

[Willy]

If Renault is in bed with Infinity there are some deep pockets with which to cover Lotus expenses, such as paying the drivers on time and what is in the contract.
There are so many backroom dealings going on in the multinational corporations that the average person has no idea who is puling the strings.

[Jericoke]

If Renault is in bed with Infinity there are some deep pockets with which to cover Lotus expenses, such as paying the drivers on time and what is in the contract.
There are so many backroom dealings going on in the multinational corporations that the average person has no idea who is puling the strings.

Like many multinational corporations, Renault answers to boardmembers who answer to stockholders.  A lot of times companies do things that are 'symbolic', which appease their constituents, yet don't make any genuine difference.  For example, stockholders might not like the idea of Renault covering the salary of a Finnish playboy when advertisers don't make up the budget.  It might not affect Renault's bottom line, but it's easy for people to point out that the company cares more about the glamour of F1 than paying their workers a reasonable wage.  (I'm not familiar with Renault's business practises, nor their working conditions.  Just speaking hypothetically)

There are hundreds of companies that could easily absorb the cost of running an F1 team.  They don't because their boards don't believe their stockholders would tolerate the costs.

That's why Bernie likes to get rich guys to personally buy the teams.  No boards, no stockholders, just ego.  You might not know this, but Texas and New Jersey both have large collections of rich guys with big egos.  As do London, Rome and Paris...Singapore... Moscow... the Middle East... any wonder Bernie why Bernie is choosing those places to race?  He's not looking for thousands of fans, just one or two with deep pockets and a love for glamour.

[cosworth151]

The only two things more antithetical than "glamor" and "New Jersey" is "glamor" and "Texas."

Moscow isn't exactly a glamor hot spot, either.

[Jericoke]

The only two things more antithetical than "glamor" and "New Jersey" is "glamor" and "Texas."

Moscow isn't exactly a glamor hot spot, either.

Exactly!  So you get the locals who are looking for glamour, shmooz them, and convince them that if they buy an F1 team, they get to hang out in Monte Carlo one weekend a year.

[lkjohnson1950]

The only two things more antithetical than "glamor" and "New Jersey" is "glamor" and "Texas."

Moscow isn't exactly a glamor hot spot, either.

Well, Indianapolis may hold a couple of big races, but it isn't exactly a style and glamour hotspot either. (Though I like it very much, at least in Spring and Fall.)

[John S]

The only two things more antithetical than "glamor" and "New Jersey" is "glamor" and "Texas."

Moscow isn't exactly a glamor hot spot, either.

The main point about these locations is that movers, shakers and high rollers can smooze at the GP track daytime on Sat & Sun but be back to the luxury lifestyle in less than half hour with chopper links. That's why Austria is likely to be a very low key affair along with Korea.