Renault supports F1 by not making “unnecessary noise”
Renault Sport F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul says the French manufacturer is eager to work with Liberty Media and avoid “trying to make unnecessary noise” like its rival teams.
Renault welcomed Sean Bratches, Formula 1 managing director of commercial operations, to its Paris event to promote the launch of its Le Coq Sportif apparel where the F1 boss spoke on stage to invited guests on the same day Ferrari and Mercedes launched their respective 2018 cars.
Renault Sport F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul says the French manufacturer is eager to work with Liberty Media and avoid “trying to make unnecessary noise” like its rival teams.
Renault welcomed Sean Bratches, Formula 1 managing director of commercial operations, to its Paris event to promote the launch of its Le Coq Sportif apparel where the F1 boss spoke on stage to invited guests on the same day Ferrari and Mercedes launched their respective 2018 cars.
Renault chief Abiteboul says his team has established a constructive working relationship with new F1 owners Liberty and feels it values the French manufacturer’s commitment to the sport having celebrated its 40th anniversary in F1 at last year’s British Grand Prix.
With its long-term strategy of fighting for F1 world titles in place after returning as a fully-fledged manufacturer at the start of 2016, Abiteboul is eager for Renault to help Liberty shape the future of the sport rather than become a disruptive stakeholder.
“I don’t want to point my finger at other manufacturers but even in the most difficult times in financial crisis Renault tried to look for ways to stabilise and look after employment in Enstone, while also finding solutions with Red Bull,” Abiteboul told Crash.net. “I think we’ve been extremely loyal to the F1 community and we’re not trying to make unnecessary noise about ourselves.
“We are trying to keep our heads down to do the job that we have to do which is challenging enough. I think F1 recognises that and sees we can work in partnership.
“He [Bratches] sees in Renault a team that has been loyal to Formula 1 for 40 years. We’ve been doing things a little bit differently from the other manufacturers. We have a real loyalty to the community.”
Last November, Ferrari President Sergio Marchionne threatened to pull the Italian manufacturer out of F1 if the sport’s future plans didn’t suit with its own while the head of Mercedes Dieter Zetsche backed up Ferrari’s sentiments stating it was “100% aligned”.
