Renault joins Ferrari in 2010 boycott

Renault have joined Toyota, Red Bull and Ferrari in announcing their intention not to contest the 2010 Formula 1 championship under the proposed budget and rule changes. BMW has hinted it would follow suit and this leaves only Mercedes as the sole manufacturer not to comment. One must wonder if the recent suspended sentence deal for the Mclaren "lie-gate" comes into play but also we must remember that Mercedes now powers the dominant car in the field and it's very likely to win the constructor's championship this year.

Here is the full ING Renault F1 Team statement

"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."

And here is the rest of it.