Renault is not the only manufacturer questioning its long-term commitment to Formula One.

That is the insistence of Dietrich Mateschitz, the owner of two teams including the Renault-powered Red Bull Racing.

Following the shock departure of the Japanese manufacturer Honda, it was rumoured that the Renault board might also be reconsidering its involvement in the expensive sport.

"It's not only Renault," Mateschitz told the Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung, "it's the same with Toyota and apparently also BMW.
” "Probably everyone in Formula One is analysing itself in times of a global recession," he added.

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International

 

As long as Ferrari and Mercedes stay in, it's all good as far as I'm concerned. Losing Renault and BMW would definitely be a loss though.

 

nice to see companies with positive outlooks for the economy in 2010...

 

As iv'e said before.

I reckon RedBull will be one of the ones to survive if everything turns to custard. They don't have any flagship sponsors which if they pulled the pin, would destroy the team ( ala ING ).

 

new concorde agreement should sort out a lot of the issues the manufacturers have. one of the main issues is the prohibition of selling customer chassis which could bring in a lot of income to the teams. that rule will likely change so that private teams can enter and simply buy a chassis and motor to get on the grid. with the threat of manufacturers pulling out F1 needs to act...now.