Williams seeks early end to Toyota deal

[John S]

With the relaxation of rules next year there could be as much switching of engine suppliers as drivers.

Williams has requested a release from its engine contract with Toyota for 2010, AUTOSPORT has learned, with the team now weighing up its options about which power-unit to run next year.

Although Williams has another year to run in its partnership with the Japanese manufacturer, moves are now being made for the deal to finish at the end of this year.

It is understood that Williams has already held talks with several car manufacturers about a supply for 2010 - with Renault emerging as favourites for a new partnership, although Mercedes-Benz could also be a possibility.

Team boss Frank Williams told AUTOSPORT that he expected a decision about the identity of the engine partner to be made imminently.

"It will be quite soon," he said. "We have got to find a way to put it into a car, haven't we?"

Although AUTOSPORT understands that talks have already opened with Renault about a potential supply deal for next year, Williams declined to comment on who was favourite if the team's deal with Toyota comes to an end.

"The paddock is full of gossip," he said when asked if Renault was his preferred option. "Tomorrow it might be Mercedes-Benz, and then the next day Ferrari – and I get a free car with it!"

Toyota has confirmed that it is 'flexible' to the possibility of Williams ending its deal early – providing it was not hurt financially by the move.

"It is a slightly complex situation," team president John Howett told AUTOSPORT. "The original document we gave the right for Williams to seek an alternative engine. The basis was that should they get a free engine in the future, perhaps from a new entrant manufacturer, then we would not be there to damage Williams in any way with purely contractual relations.

"Earlier this year they pushed us to sign an extension agreement covering specifically next year, which we have concluded, but they are asking, or seeking, to find an alternative supplier.

"Toyota's position is normally flexible. If they do not wish to take our engine, I don't really feel materially, provided we can reduce the stock and are not left with any liability, that we hold them to the contract."

Renault has been pushing hard to keep its customer supply operation in place for next year, and AUTOSPORT understands it has upped its efforts to try to convince current partner Red Bull Racing to extend its successful partnership.

Red Bull Racing is seriously considering a switch to Mercedes-Benz for next year, but a hard push from Renault chiefs to show its commitment to helping the Milton Keynes-based outfit appears to have put the French car manufacturer back in the frame again.

Christian Horner, team principal of Red Bull Racing, said his outfit would take its time before deciding what it would do.

"We have still got time on our hands," Horner told AUTOSPORT. "Renault is doing a great job for us, showing great support, but we are not in any rush."

By Jonathan Noble and Dieter Rencken, Autosport

[FW14B]

I must admit, the nostalgic ring of a 'Williams Renault' has a big appeal to me.  Oh the glory days!

[Scott]

But I read another report that said the issue was the incompatibility of Williams KERS system with the Toyota.  It didn't detail if the issue was that Toyota wouldn't adapt the engine for Williams for next year since Toy and the rest of FOTA don't want it next year.  If that was the case, then I imagine that Cosworth would be the only choice, since Renault wouldn't be interested in helping Williams with that either.

[lkjohnson1950]

I don't think I would switch to Cosworth just so I could run KERS, but it sounds like something Frank would do. He has never been a team player.

Lonny

[FW14B]

Renault's engines already have the capability to use KERS though, so it is not something they would need to develop, unlike the Toyota units.

[Jericoke]

I must admit, the nostalgic ring of a 'Williams Renault' has a big appeal to me.  Oh the glory days!

Seconded!

[cosworth151]

Hopefully, I can soon unpack all of my old Williams Cosworth gear! 

[FW14B]

Sadly the only Williams Cosworth stuff I owned were stuck with Webber logos on them!

[Jericoke]

I must admit, the nostalgic ring of a 'Williams Renault' has a big appeal to me.  Oh the glory days!

Seconded!

Changed my mind.  If Vettel is a Renault customer... those engines are too touchy!  He might not be careful on them, but it's a 22,000+ rev engine limited to 18,000! 

[FW14B]

I kind of think the same, but it was pointed out on the BBC by Martin Brundle that these problems seem much more common with RBR, which would signify an installation issue as opposed to a faulty engine.  The Renault works team does not seem to suffer so badly, so perhaps it is something to do with the design of the Red Bulls?

[Jericoke]

I kind of think the same, but it was pointed out on the BBC by Martin Brundle that these problems seem much more common with RBR, which would signify an installation issue as opposed to a faulty engine.  The Renault works team does not seem to suffer so badly, so perhaps it is something to do with the design of the Red Bulls?

Could be that the RBR mechanics aren't as informed about the engine as the Renault mechanics are either.

Not to say that Renault would intentionally sabotage a customer team, but that the amount of detailed knowledge is hard to transfer.

Or the Renault mechanics are just better with the engine than the RBR ones.

[Scott]

More likely it's cooling issues, or maybe torque on the drivetrain...engine or oil.  Does RBR have their own transmission, or is Renault providing that too?  That could also be an issue.  Who knows, but like Brundle said, Renault doesn't seem to be having the same problem.  Mechanics shouldn't have any effect since the engines are delivered sealed and are essentially plug&play.

[John S]

Because of the lack of failures at Renault with engines it does rather look like installation is the place to be looking for problems. If there was some problem with the transmission on Vettels car over the weekend, which may not have been apparent at the time, and if it was not changed when they installed the new engine the same explosive outcome could result.

Attaching new parts to old or existing parts can often end in unsatisfactory results. Of course the problem could be totally different but in the absence of facts it's fun to speculate. 

 

[Jericoke]

Attaching new parts to old or existing parts can often end in unsatisfactory results. Of course the problem could be totally different but in the absence of facts it's fun to speculate. 

An absense of facts never stopped me before   

It could be that the Renault engines just aren't meant to go as fast as Vettel, which would explain the results of Alonso, Piquet and Grosjean...

Should Toyota stay in as a supplier?  I personally believe that with rev limits, the engine is the least distinctive feature (indeed, the top teams are all different suppliers), so I wouldn't really feel bad about taking a supply from anyone.

[FW14B]

Speculating about F1 is all I do!