Renault To Quit Too In 2010?

The Renault Team have released the statement below. It seems that their as annoyed as Ferrari about the FIA proposal. However the underlying gripe seems to be the fact that the FIA have just decided to do the cost capping without consulting the teams properly first. Read the statement in full below:

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The decision of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) to introduce two
sets of Formula One technical regulations for the 2010 Formula One season has
caused the Renault Group to reconsider its entry in next year’s FIA Formula One
World Championship.

There is frustration that FOTA’s 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 that it is paramount that the governance of the sport is
coordinated with a spirit of consultation with all parties (FIA, FOM, FOTA) 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.

President of the ING Renault F1 Team, Bernard Rey, commented: “Renault has
always considered Formula One as the pinnacle of motor sport and the perfect stage
to demonstrate technical excellence. We remain committed to the sport, however we
cannot be involved in a championship operating with different sets of rules, and if
such rules are put into effect, we will be forced to pull out from next season.”

ING Renault F1 Team Managing Director, Flavio Briatore, commented: “Our aim is to
reduce costs while maintaining the high standards that make Formula One one of the
most prestigious brands on the market. We want to achieve this in a coordinated
manner with the regulatory and commercial bodies, and we refuse to accept
unilateral governance handed out by the FIA. If the decisions announced by the
World Council on the 29th of April 2009 are not revised, we have no choice but to
withdraw from the FIA Formula One World Championship at the end of 2009.”