Rumours about the health of the team currently known as Renault refused to disappear at Silverstone.
Boss Eric Boullier recently dismissed the rumours, hinting that they were triggered mischievously at Monaco by his predecessor Flavio Briatore.

But six weeks later, there was once again similar talk in the paddock of the British grand prix, not long after Williams was announced as engine supplier Renault Sport’s newest partner team for 2012 and beyond.

Apart from the continuing naming connection, a customer engine contract and their historical links, the French marque is no longer involved with the Lotus-sponsored Renault team.

And Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports that the team might even be powered by Cosworth engines next year.

“This is fiercely denied by those in charge,” the magazine acknowledged.

However, the Williams situation is perhaps relevant, particularly with the fanfare of the Renault engine announcement involving former works champions Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve at the team’s Grove headquarters last week.

As for Lotus Renault, “poor results and apparently still pending payments for the engines do not make things any better”, Auto Motor und Sport added.

Team Lotus on Monday revealed its 2011 car.
In an edition of its online magazine Team Lotus Notes, the team published the first photographs of the new green and gold TL11 featuring a Mercedes-style unconventional airbox shape.

The new livery features more yellow and prominent Renault signage, reflecting its new engine partnership with the French marque.

The car itself, with a rear end supplied by Red Bull, has a high and straight nose similar to the other designs seen so far including the Ferrari and Mercedes.

“It is a much more contemporary design. The car really will be a midfield runner. It’s a modern F1 car,” technical boss Mike Gascoyne is quoted as saying.

“There’s been almost no carry-over of parts for the 2011 car — it looks substantially different from last year’s car. It’s the basis of our cars for the future,” he added.

Lotus has not changed its mind about running a KERS system in 2011.

In May this year, team boss Tony Fernandes said the Norfolk-based team had “good reasons” to build the 2010 car’s successor without the energy recovery technology.

Another new feature of the technical rules for 2011 is an adjustable rear wing to help boost overtaking.

“We will have the adjustable rear wing but not KERS for the start of the season – it’s in development – really because of engineering resource,” technical boss Mike Gascoyne told edp24.co.uk.

“Over one lap, it’s still not a big plus for its effort, involvement and negatives. Strategically off the start and in races, then yes,” he said.

“But at the start of the year, KERS is not going to be the thing that gives us the step up.

“It’s all the other things, and we’ve taken the choice to concentrate on all those because if we don’t get them right, KERS isn’t going to make a difference.”

Lotus’ new engine supplier for 2011 is Renault, so Gascoyne confirmed that when the team is ready to run with KERS, it will be the French marque’s unit.

“Renault are very keen on green technologies and KERS, so it’s something we will be pushing,” he said.

Citroen is waiting for Kimi Raikkonen to decide whether to stay with the French marque in the world rally championship next year.

The Finn is reportedly considering returning to formula one in 2011 with Renault, while some insiders believe he is much more likely to stay at least another season in his new discipline.

Benoit Nogier, team manager at the Citroen Junior Team, said the door is open for the 30-year-old.

“At the moment there is no commitment from Kimi for next year,” he told French radio RMC.

“Up to now he has showed appreciation for what he is doing and the desire to continue.

“He is the master of his destiny so it’s up to him to tell us if he wants to be with us next year or not.  I will be very happy to welcome him if he wants to continue,” added Nogier.

He said there is no great rush for Raikkonen to decide.

“We’re not talking about a deadline because it’s too early.  As the days go by you eventually reach the time to make a decision,” he explained.

Adrian Newey has acknowledged that his Red Bull cars will almost certainly continue to be powered by Renault engines next year.

The Austrian team is concerned about its horse power deficit that began amid the so-called ‘engine freeze’, with Mercedes and Ferrari pulling away in that area.

But technical boss Newey told Germany’s Sport Bild that Red Bull is likely to stay with Renault.

“Where shall we go?” he is quoted as saying. “McLaren has stopped us from getting the Mercedes engine.

“So there’s only Ferrari. But we ask ourselves: if we beat them, will we still have the same specification as the Ferrari team?” admitted Newey.

And although perhaps as much as 40 horse power down, Newey acknowledges that Renault “always respond to our requests”.

He said the French marque “very strongly adhered” to the spirit of the engine freeze, developing its V8 engine less than its rivals.

“This means we now have a gap to Ferrari and Mercedes. And if Renault are not allowed to keep up, I can well imagine them withdrawing as an engine supplier,” added Newey.

Vitaly Petrov might leave Renault but remain powered by the French marque’s engines in formula one next year.

That is the claim of the Swiss publication Motorsport Aktuell, amid reports Enstone based Renault is still yet to decide if the Russian rookie is good enough to stay with the works team in 2011.

Petrov, 25, has performed well at recent races but suffered a setback at Spa-Francorchamps when he crashed before setting a lap in qualifying.

Motorsport Aktuell believes one possible outcome for Petrov is a seat next year with Lotus, who are strongly rumoured to be switching from Cosworth to Renault power for 2011.

His possible successors at Renault include Germans Timo Glock, Nick Heidfeld and Adrian Sutil.

Sutil was asked about his future in Belgium last weekend and, according to Auto Motor und Sport, insisted that “Force India is my first contact” for 2011.

Renault is likely to supply not only the engine but also the gearbox to Lotus in 2011, according to reports.

Turun Sanomat, close to the team’s Finnish driver Heikki Kovalainen, also said that after using standard Xtrac hydraulics this season, Lotus is designing its own system for 2011.

The Lotus/Renault tie up, with the French marque also to supply the F1 team’s electronics next year, could be part of a bigger arrangement with Group Lotus, the separately Malaysian-owned sports car company.

Currently, Lotus road cars are powered by Toyota engines.

“Next year’s (F1) car is well under way,” technical boss Mike Gascoyne told F1′s official website. “The main focus now is on 2011 — to make sure we take a big step forward.”

Lotus will reportedly confirm its switch to Renault engine power for the 2011 season during the August break.

The new Malaysian-backed team is currently equipped with Cosworth engines, but Italia Racing believes a team announcement is due within two weeks.

But just a week ago, Renault engine technical director Rob White said an announcement about the French marque’s plans for 2011 is not imminent.

“We have the capacity to supply additional teams in the future and would be willing to do so if it was good for Renault and for the sport as a whole,” he said.

“There has been speculation in the press, with different teams mentioned from time to time, but no announcement is imminent,” added White.

The original Lotus team was powered by Renault engines between 1983 and 1986.

Jun.18 (GMM)  There could be more Renault-powered cars on next year’s formula one grid than any other engine supplier.

Although the French marque currently supplies its 2.4 litre V8 only to the team that bears its name as well as Red Bull, it is reported that Williams is now close to agreeing a deal for 2011.

There have been reports that the Grove based team is less than fully happy with the returning supplier Cosworth this year, while at the same time Renault has confirmed it is looking to add a team to its customer engine roster.

Also linked with a switch to Renault has been the currently Cosworth-powered new team Lotus, while Cosworth’s business director Mark Gallagher recently said he suspects equipping the sport’s 13th team for 2011 will be “a Cosworth/Renault competition”.

A report by France’s Auto Hebdo said it is likely that eight cars on the 2011 grid will be fitted with Renault engines.

“An agreement with Williams is almost done,” said the magazine.

The F1 circus will leave Turkey without a decision about the sport’s tyre supplier for 2011.

The sport arrived in Istanbul earlier this week amid speculation Pirelli had been selected and would be unveiled as Bridgestone’s replacement before the event was out.

But it then emerged that Michelin’s Nick Shorrock had arrived in the city, and the French marque’s competition boss met for 90 minutes with team bosses on Sunday.

The meeting broke with team figures saying only that a decision has not been made and is not due for a few more days.

(GMM)

Only two teams are still holding out for a supply of Michelin tyres for the 2011 season.

It has been reported in recent days that an announcement about Pirelli becoming the sport’s new tyre supplier is imminent.

Bernie Ecclestone said on Friday that he hopes the situation is clearer by the end of this Turkish grand prix weekend.

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport claims that ten of the 12 teams are clearly in favour of Pirelli’s proposal.

Some time ago, Ferrari, McLaren, Renault and Mercedes were voting for Michelin.

But Mercedes and McLaren have since switched camps, meaning that if a poll was held today, only Ferrari and Renault would still be holding out for the French marque.

“I think we are getting there.  We are getting organised now,” F1 chief executive Ecclestone told reporters in the Istanbul media centre on Friday.

(GMM)

Williams has emerged as a third possible recipient of Renault engines for the 2011 season.

After the French marque said it has the capacity to add more teams to its current F1 roster, it was rumoured that the hopeful newcomers ART could be eyeing Renault power.

Reports then emerged that the new Cosworth-powered Lotus team might be contemplating a change of engine supplier.

Now, Italy’s Autosprint reports that Williams – openly not entirely happy with its current Cosworth engines – is already in talks with Renault.

There may also be a link between the Williams/Renault talks, and rumours that Renault’s former long-time engineering director Pat Symonds could soon be a consultant to the design of Williams’ forthcoming FW33 car.

Renault currently supplies the team that bears its name, as well as the dominant Red Bull Racing, and Renault’s head of engine operations Remi Taffin said: “We still do not know how it will be in 2011.

“But we do know that we have the ability to assist more than two teams.”

(GMM)

Renault could supply its V8 engines to another team in 2011.

Currently, the French marque powers not only the team that bears its name, but also the sport’s dominant Red Bull Racing.

Confirming its bid to debut in F1 next year, GP2 team ART’s co-founder Frederic Vasseur admitted he has “good relationships with Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault”.

And Renault’s head of engine operations Remi Taffin told Auto Hebdo: “Today, nothing has been done but it is quite possible that Renault will power another team next season.”

It is possible that the new deal will replace Red Bull, whose owner Dietrich Mateschitz said in an interview mere days ago that he thinks the Renault is “30 to 40 horse power” less powerful than Mercedes’ engine.

But Taffin suggested that the new deal could be in addition to Red Bull and Enstone-based Renault.

“It would not be a problem: we have the capacity both in terms of technology and production.”

(GMM)

Michelin is close to seeing the green light to return to formula one in 2011.

Even though Avon and Pirelli have also expressed interest in replacing the sport’s departing supplier Bridgestone, Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport said Michelin is the favourite after diluting some of its earlier demands.

The publication said a three-year deal through 2013 is likely, with every team paying the French marque 3 million euros per season.

The deal will also see Michelin branding on the cars, driver overalls and around the grand prix circuits, but the wheel diameter width will not immediately be changed from the current 13 to lower-profile 18-inch tyres.

Michelin will reportedly provide less tyres per car per weekend than is currently the case, and three different compounds — hard, medium and soft, with the teams able to select which compounds are used.

Auto Motor und Sport said Michelin branding will be on the drivers’ shoulders next year, and a logo on the nose of the cars and the rearward-facing rear wing.

Representatives of the Italian marque Pirelli, however, will make a presentation to the teams in Spain this weekend, and are touted to supply the GP2 field beginning next year.

Apr.20 (GMM) Avon has confirmed reports it is a potential supplier of tyres in formula one next year.

The name entered the frame as a potential replacement for F1′s departing sole supplier Bridgestone in China last weekend, amid suggestions the teams group FOTA had agreed an in-principle deal with Michelin.

But with the famous French marque wanting to be paid and pushing for regulations allowing much lower profile tyres, it was rumoured Avon was favoured by Bernie Ecclestone and the smaller teams as a non-branded and cheaper option.

UK based Avon, supplier to the defunct A1GP open wheeler series, was sold to Ohio based Cooper in 1997.

Its motor racing division said in a statement that it “has been approached” to supply tyres to F1 teams.

“The company is in discussion with the relevant parties and cannot comment further at this stage,” said Avon Cooper.

It is rumoured that Bridgestone could remain quietly involved beyond this year as the non-official supplier of technology and personnel to Avon.

F1 team bosses Martin Whitmarsh and Stefano Domenicali said they are confident the issue will be resolved by the next race in Barcelona.

“I think we will know something more, I would say 100 per cent, by Barcelona,” Ferrari’s Domenicali said before departing Shanghai.