Renault say they are reviewing all their Formula One options, including quitting the sport or buying the Toro Rosso team, after stinging criticism of their engine.
The French manufacturer has been at loggerheads with their main partners, Red Bull, since Mercedes ran away with the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on 15 March.
Despite signs of improvement in Friday practice at the Malaysian Grand Prix, the Renault Sport F1 managing director, Cyril Abiteboul, did not pull any punches when asked at a news conference about the situation. “I can confirm that we are looking at a lot of options, including getting out of Formula One,” he said.
“Honestly, if Formula One is that bad for Renault’s reputation, if we see that we will continue to struggle with the current formula, if the sport is not delivering on the value that it costs Renault ... We think we are a credible player in the sport but you need to think about what else we need to do on top of what we already are. But right now, the focus remains on the engine.”
Renault supply power units to former champions Red Bull and sister team Toro Rosso. Lotus were previously the championship-winning Renault works team, with the manufacturer selling its shares to Genii capital in 2009-10.
The Toro Rosso team principal, Franz Tost, addressed speculation Renault could buy his team by saying it would be a “fantastic opportunity”.
“The team wants to be established in the future within the top five of the constructors’ championship and to be owned by a manufacturer would be exactly the step forward which the team needs,” said Tost, sitting next to Abiteboul.