Renault might be declared a "historic team"

While the stressed relationship between Red Bull Racing and Renault appears to last for the time being, Renault might have found one more reason to return to the sport as a full constructor team. Amid circulating rumors about Renault purchasing the economically frail Lotus F1 Team, Bernie Ecclestone has told Autosport that the french manufacturer might be named a historical team.

"Yes. If they take over Lotus and do exactly what Mercedes and Red Bull did, that would be it, so yeah, sure."

Historical teams, such as Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari, get a significant financial backing from the Formula One Group compared to other teams. However, in order for them to earn this status, all historical teams must agree on letting them get it, meaning that current partner Red Bull among others must agree on this. Despite this, Ecclestone implied that this might not be needed here. 

"If they (Renault) do what they have to do to be in line with those people I don't think we would need anybody to agree. I think we could deal with it easily enough."