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Renault is holding an extraordinary board meeting today to discuss its future plans in Formula One.

Toyota pulled out of the sport earlier today and although Renault appears to be more committed than the Japanese squad, Toyota’s decision could allow Renault an easy escape route should it wish.

Toyota pulls out of F1
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If this does happen, Robert Kubica must feel like he is the unluckiest bloke in F1 at the moment!!

If Renault do withdraw then not only do we lose two teams but two engines also!   Toyota and Renault both supplied engines to Williams and Red Bull respectively.   BMW will probably not make engines either.

That leaves Mercedes, Ferrari and Cosworth as the engine suppliers.

As I understand it, renault have invested heavily in next year's car. So not sure where that leaves them, perhaps they could still exist as an engine supplier without being resopnsible for a full outfit.

Realistically (i.e. without the use of rose tints) do the Manufacturers really get a benefit from competing in F1 with, perhaps, the exception of Ferrari? I can't say I've ever felt the need to support the team by rushing out and buying a Kangoo...

Didn't Renault only escaped severe fines and penalties by pledging they'd stay in F1?

Now that FOTA has self-destruct and Bernie firmly back in the driving seat. I wonder what would happen to F1 with most of the engine suppliers having left or about to leave the sport...........A boring one-make series? I so look forward to some no-name tyre manufacturer to be the tyre supplier in 2011.

On the flip side, the next few years may be the Golden Age for Mercedes Benz. They have Brawn, Mercedes Benz, Force India, and possibly the Red Bull team on their roster. They are going to be hard to beat. I sure hope Qadbak Sauber be powered by Mercedes Benz too, that would be some irony.

The new Cossie engine will take a season or two to get up to speed.

Good point about the Tyre Manufacturer.

I cannot put into words how much I'd love to see Nangkang on the sidewalls...

Chunkster:

The new Cossie engine will take a season or two to get up to speed.

Really? Cosworth pretty much existed to make V8s.

As for Renault, marketing industry people used to think their participation in F1 was pointless back in the 90s when Mansell/Williams conquered all.

I doubt Michelin or Goodyear are willing to come back to F1 unless the supply agreement becomes a money-making venture.

I remember my jaw dropped to almost resemble Schumacher's when I saw the Cooper name on the tyres of the A1 racers.

I'd be laughing if I am Dr Dieter Zetsche and Norbert Haug (if they have already had the 2010 F1 budget signed off). The Mercedes Benz contingent will be to beat in the next few years.

My wildcard of the day, AMG and HWA (with backing from some gentlemen from the Middle East) to buy Toyota's F1 business. These guys have been dreaming to go into F1 on their own. But they are sensible folks and would probably only buy the team's assets (as bernie wil probably not grant them a F1 slot). The Toyota F1 facilities in Cologne are state of the art and will be useful for AMG and HWA's DTM, Sportscar, and F1 aspirations.

TheOmegaMan:

Really? Cosworth pretty much existed to make V8s.

 

Yup, let's bring back the venerable DFV V8's and get the game started. Let's also forget the KERS. They were more hassle than they're worth.

Each lost manufacturer makes Bernie's crusade into the Middle East look more and more silly. Wasn't the whole point of it to promote the car brands? Couldn't care less for losing Renault.

Right now, there is no real point in being in Formula One. It is a totally boring event. The rules are a mess, no continuity, it seems every race is a whole new season. I used to love to watch Formula One, the races were spectacular, pilots like Mansell, Senna, Prost, they knew how to race. Then things changed when super hero Schumacher arrived. Totally idiotic rules were inforced, stupid calls from the race commission, man, it all made it worse. Right now, there isn´t much sport happening, more politics than anything else. No exciting technical features on the cars, just plain boring. I wish just everyone just quit, and maybe in 2 years or so, there will be a comeback, with transparent rules, true racing cars and maybe new pilots.