GreenBkk.com Formula 1 | Renault boss denies engine rumours

Renault boss denies engine rumours

Saturday 16th July 2011

Renault team principal Eric Boullier has denied a rumour that they are to switch to Cosworth engines.

The French manufacturer is now little more than an engine supplier to the Oxfordshire-based team, having sold out to Luxembourg-based investment company Genii Capital in late 2009.

Group Lotus then came on board at the end of last year, but plans to change the team's name to reflect the new agreement were thwarted by the presence of Team Lotus.

Although Group Lotus had initially granted that team a licence to use the Lotus name in F1, it subsequently terminated the agreement, saying that the outfit - then known as Lotus Racing - had breached its terms.

A recent High Court case ruled on the matter but Team Lotus were allowed to continue using the Lotus name.

But with Renault still badging a team it no longer owns, there was a rumour at the British Grand Prix that its unhappiness with the situation was such that it also wanted to halt its engine supply.

However, Boullier has insisted that there will be no move to Cosworth power and that the team are in fact looking to extend their engine deal with Renault.

"Those are new rumours from the paddock that I can kill now if you want - our contract with Renault is ending at the end of 2013," he told Autosport.

"We have already started the discussions about extending it, and now we have to negotiate.

"But the situation today is different (from recent years). Renault today is an engine supplier and, even if historically we have a very good relationship and a good technical partnership, because some of the technology that Renault is selling to the customer is ours, the discussion today is different.

"We are part of this group of four teams, and we would like to put back in the right place the technology where it should be. We are not an engine supplier, we are a chassis maker.

"Plus, on top of this, we have some sponsorship with Renault and Total, which is a French involvement. The intention in France is to bring F1 back to France.

"So it is very complex, but I am trying to make everybody happy. Me first, but also our partners, to also make sure that we can keep commercial relationships."

Credit: ESPN STAR (www.espnstar.com)