Renault Joins Teams Threatening F1 Exodus

The Renault F1 team has joined Ferrari, Toyota and Red Bull in threatening to quit F1 if the world motorsport governing body the FIA persists in pushing through proposals to adopt a £40m budget cap in 2010.

The FIA wants an optional £40m budget cap in order to encourage new teams to enter. The plan would allow capped teams to operate with far greater technical freedom than those continuing with unlimited budgets.

However, big teams fear the rules will effectively split F1 into two tiers, those that can live with the cap and enjoy the technical advantages and those that cannot.

It is understood a flexible rear wing alone, currently outlawed but available to a team next season working within the cap, could lead to a car being two seconds per lap quicker than those without.

Renault chief executive Flavio Briatore said: ‘If the decisions are not revised, we have no choice but to withdraw from the world championship at the end of 2009.’

The FIA refused to be drawn into a public discussion following the ongoing threats from teams to quit the sport.

However, it is thought the teams will discuss the plans with FIA president Max Mosley in London this week.

Also believed to be on the agenda is the teams’ apparent unhappiness at what they see as the FIA’s failure to discuss the rule changes with all the teams.

The Renault statement continued: ‘There is frustration FOTA’s (Formula One Teams’ Association) constructive proposals, including major cost-saving measures to be adopted progressively between 2009 and 2012, which were carefully constructed by FOTA members, have been completely ignored without any form of consultation by the FIA with the teams.

‘It should be stressed that Fota has set the same, if not lower, financial objective as the FIA but Renault strongly believes that this must be introduced through a different procedure agreed by all parties.

‘Renault also believes it is paramount that the governance of the sport is co-ordinated with a spirit of consultation with all parties in order to achieve a better balance between the costs and the revenues.

‘Renault is also of the firm view that all entrants in the world championship must adhere to and operate under the same regulations.’

The FIA have put a deadline in place of 29th May for teams to sign up for the 2010 season adhering to the regulations laid down for next year.