As the winter rolls on and Formula One resumes the relentless rounds of testing, driver changes, contract disputes that we have come to expect in closed seasons of late, it would seem we have another regular feature to add to our off-season interest: the Spy Scandal.
Yes, no sooner has the Mclaren/Ferrari affair blown over (apart, that is, from the Stepney sabotage accusations gathering pace, the Mclaren case against the (allegedly) illegally obtained Ferrari documents used at the WMSC hearing, and the FIA’s seemingly forgotten promise to take action against Coughlan and Stepney) than we find ourselves with another, similar case on our hands – Renault being accused of possession of a goodly amount of Mclaren information that simply should not be there.
The details we have all read, so a brief summary before we get on – a former Mclaren employee is said to have taken with him some discs containing Mclaren drawings, and uploaded them on to the Renault internal computer system. Renault bosses have admitted that 15 senior engineers have had access to the information. The hearing is in Paris in a couple of weeks.
On the face of it, then, things look pretty bad for Renault. Granted, they have admitted possession, suspended the employee in question, and collaborated with the FIA, and Mclaren, during the investigation. Without going into the details further, none of that was defence in the Mclaren case, and the punishment of $100,000,000 and disqualification from the World Constructors Championship was dealt out on the basis of what may well be far less evidence – in terms of actual, firm proof – than is apparent in this instance.
We can expect, I am sure, some financial punishment of a fair amount coming the way of Renault. That is assuming the FIA exhibit consistency of some sort, and on that we can only guess.
This outcome would raise some interesting, and possibly awkward, questions with regard to the future participation of Renault in Formula One.
Rewind a couple of years, and when Carlos Ghosn took over the helm he was far from secretive about his views on the sport – Renault, it was made clear, would only participate as long as it was commercially viable. Indeed, this uncertainty, and talk that the team may have withdrawn before now, was believed to have been influential in Fernando Alonso jumping ship, a year in advance, to Mclaren.
Back to today, and lets say that Renault, at the WMSC hearing in a couple of weeks, are found guilty of possession of Mclaren IP, deemed to have gained a ‘sporting advantage’ (as per Mclaren) and fined, say, $50,000,000 – the FIA opting for the lesser fine on the grounds that they have a smaller budget than Mclaren. Whatever the figure, it is likely to be fairly large, so the question now is – what does Ghosn tell his board?
He has two options, really – take it on the chin, accept that the good name of Renault will be sullied and associated with ‘cheating’, and carry on, or the same, but pull out in protest at the severity of the penalty.
Renault, we must remember, are ultimately in Formula One to sell cars – unlike Mclaren – and figures from the most recent audits show sales are down, rather than up, despite two World Titles on the trot.
I consider it a fair possibility that Ghosn would see such a verdict as an opportunity to do what he wants to do in a few years anyway, and withdraw from the sport.
What happens, then, if Renault does withdraw?
The implications for the sport are, at first reading, not good, as we would be left with a twenty car grid, and possibly without Renault engines. But wait – the engine problem can easily be resolved, thanks to the being built by Meccachrome, a subsidiary in which a certain Mr Briatore has an interest, as well as at the Viry-Chatillon Renault plant.
As has happened before, Renault engines could still be supplied on a customer basis.
Back to the team, however, and we suspect there is one man who may be watching the situation with great interest indeed.
Plans to put Prodrive run Mclaren-Mercedes MP4-23 cars on the grid in 2008 have faltered of late, as the customer car row has yet to be satisfactorily resolved for Dave Richards’ commercial partners to feel confident enough.
Should Renault announce a withdrawal, however, an entire team, personnel, facilities, and intellectual property – that most important of factors in this legally charged era – would be on the market in a very short time.
Consider the possibility – Bernie, faced with Renaults withdrawal, smoothes the way for Richards to purchase the team, a now useless asset that Ghosn wants off his hands, and facilitates a way in which Prodrive-Renault could be on the grid in Melbourne, 2008, in much the same way he opened the doors for Super Aguri in such a short time. What’s more, this is no longer a customer team, but a new team, a new name, building its own car.
Far fetched? Pie in the sky? I think not.
It could just be that, should Renault withdraw, we would still see 22 cars take to the grid next year, with Mr Richards achieving his goal in a fashion no-one could have envisaged a year ago. As for drivers, well, I hear there’s a young Spaniard on the market – won a few races, knows the game…..
Written by Steve Turnbull on Thu, 22 Nov 2007 15:34:10
[ Print View ][ E-Mail Article ]
