Renault to quit F1?

**Giuseppe F1** · 11th Dec 09, 11:25

Originally Posted by Giuseppe F1

F1-live now reporting that the deal is done and official announcement will be made next week.

I would truly love it to be Prodrive as I love to see real racing organisations in F1 and would always choose a Prodrive, Lola or Penske over a faceless and passionless Qadbak or Midland yet all the signals seem to be that Gerard Lopez's Genii Capital may have gotten the deal as latest reports from their camp have been that the Renault name would remain under their ownership if it happens so I reckon its gone there way - great for the team being 'saved' yet if Prodrive have lost out again, this will be like the 3rd or 4th time time they have been turned down for an F1 ride - what have they gotta do to join the Pirahna Club??!!

Plus, I really wanna see an F1 Prodrive Aston Martin in a couple of years in Gulf livery!! Purely selfish reasons there!

http://en.espnf1.com/renault/motorsport/story/4867.html

Plus, Lopez has been a guest speaker at the recent F1 business forum and going by James Allen's F1 blog, did a very good job, came across very well and certainly has the business credentials and exciting new ideas for F1 to embrace new media etc. Would be great if F1 could accomondate both Lopez and Prodrive and I guess its reassureing for the health of the sport that F1 is still being seen as great value and a viable business platform.

The thing in all of this for me is Toro Rosso - if Mateschitz does wanna sell, then its seems there are buyers out there. I think reason this hasnt happened is beacuse new prospective teams probably just wish to purchase their entry and not their facilities and Italian base and Mateschitz is probably insisting on this in any sale as to not make a whole workforce redundant

**AndyL** · 11th Dec 09, 15:42

Originally Posted by Giuseppe F1

Plus, Lopez has been a guest speaker at the recent F1 business forum and going by James Allen's F1 blog, did a very good job, came across very well and certainly has the business credentials and exciting new ideas for F1 to embrace new media etc. Would be great if F1 could accomondate both Lopez and Prodrive and I guess its reassureing for the health of the sport that F1 is still being seen as great value and a viable business platform.

James was pretty enthusiastic about Lopez wasn't he... but then again he was never going to badmouth one of the main speakers at a forum that he himself was hosting.

I thought James' most telling comment about Lopez was this one: "has created a successful career out of investing in and then selling on tech companies." That doesn't fill me with confidence that Lopez is in it for the good of the team or the sport.

**ioan** · 11th Dec 09, 16:49

Originally Posted by AndyL

I thought James' most telling comment about Lopez was this one: "has created a successful career out of investing in and then selling on tech companies." That doesn't fill me with confidence that Lopez is in it for the good of the team or the sport.

The budget cap move just transformed F1 even more in a business, not a marketing business as it was but into a direct money making one!

**Sonic** · 11th Dec 09, 17:05

Originally Posted by AndyL

I thought James' most telling comment about Lopez was this one: "has created a successful career out of investing in and then selling on tech companies." That doesn't fill me with confidence that Lopez is in it for the good of the team or the sport.

Agreed.

**VkmSpouge** · 11th Dec 09, 19:53

Well the important thing is that team should be able to continue for 2010. Of course I would prefer it if Prodrive was the team taking over the Renault F1 operation but I can't have everything.