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Renault concerned about F1 'B-teams'

Published on 07 Mar 2019 15:34
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By: Harry Mattocks

Renault team principal Cyril Abiteboul has expressed his concern at the growing number of "B-teams" on the Formula 1 grid.

A B-team in this instance is a team that has strong links with a top team, with a good example being the relationship that exists between Ferrari and Haas.

Haas was the first team to benefit from a rule change that meant that more parts could be bought from other teams than they could before.

This new regulation meant that Haas could not only buy the engine and gearbox from Ferrari, they could also use the same suspension as the Scuderia. There are what are known as 'listed parts', which the teams must design and build in-house. However, any items that do not fall under this list can be outsourced to another manufacturer.

Due to the success of this relationship, it has become increasingly popular. For example, Red Bull and Toro Rosso are working more closely than ever before this season, and world-champions Mercedes linking up with Racing Point.

However, Abiteboul has claimed that this is very damaging to the development of Renault, who are midway through their six-year plan to return to the front of the grid.

"It looks like you will soon be unable to win races if you do not have a B-team. We see this as a serious problem that needs to be recognized by the FIA. We do not want to be part of such a Formula 1," Abiteboul told Auto Motor und Sport.

Speaking about Renault's pre-season test, Abiteboul says that the team can be satisfied with its running as it aims to bridge the gap to the front runners.

"We're third in test kilometers. That's good. There's nothing fundamentally wrong with the car. We got a good understanding of the set-up and balance of the car.

"We're closer to the front runners than before. We didn't have any big dramas, but a few small problems like the DRS in the first week and the brakes in the second. On the last day we were able to test a few development parts. Overall, we can be satisfied with the test days."

F1 News Cyril Abiteboul Renault

Replies (7)

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
And yet rumors regarding Renault trying to pressure McLaren into a similar deal is abundant. So I guess Abitebs only worry about it as long as it's about others?
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- Mar 7 2019 - 16:01
- mcbhargav
  
  Posts: 1,332
  It would be a terrible idea for any Title aspiring team to share parts with others. Hope Mclaren doesn't take the easy way out.
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  Mar 7 2019 - 17:26
- Ram Samartha
  
  Posts: 1,172
  Except for that all of the teams use the McLaren ECU since 2007. I think they still do.
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  Mar 7 2019 - 18:03
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Yes, I believe McLaren is still the sole supplier of some telemetry. I think parts sharing is a sound concept for the teams that struggle to stay competitive on the grid, but full B-teams should be regulated to some extent. Moreover, I find Liberty's idea of standardized components a bit concerning for a sport priding itself as the pinnacle of motorsport. Standardization in sports reduces innovation, and nullifies the need for separate teams. Might aswell have cars in all kinds of colours then. Have a standardized gearbox and such for anyone who want it, the rest should be able to produce their own gearboxes if they so please.
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  Mar 8 2019 - 06:49
Ram Samartha

Posts: 1,172
1 - Because we don't have a B team and 2, because those B teams are doing a better job with their cars than we are. I was reading about the coming changes in 2021 and found it very interesting that Liberty wants to get to 1 common gearbox from a single supplier for all teams. I know there are a few smaller parts that have a single supplier now, but it's hard for me to imagine Ferrari or Merc, or even Renault wanting to use somebody else's gearbox. It sounds like they want to try to move to a standardized aero package as well similar to IndyCar or Formula E. I think they're in for some arguments ahead.
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- Mar 7 2019 - 17:54
- michielhimself
  
  Posts: 132
  The gearbox thing can be explained. Some teams use control of oil circulation through the gearbox in order to determine where heat goes, in or out. Using that control, they can influence the viscosity of interlinked rear wheel suspension dampers during the race which in turn can influence ride and travel height over bumps and in curves or straights. Forcing all teams to use a standard customer gearbox nullifies that advantage that some teams have over others in that respect.
  FIA has mandated use of single spec parts before, for Engine Control Units, it's been like that for quite some time ...
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  Mar 8 2019 - 07:26
Pistonhead

Posts: 556
Renault have to press to try get a B team, its illogical not to when others have and are clearly reaping rewards of same. There is no contradiction however in also pressing the FIA on the issue - its a shocking side-step of testing rules as well as budgetary constraints and has to be clamped down on hard. Ive been saying this is one of two biggest issues in F1 for a while now - the other being crap circuits that don't allow overtaking.
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- Mar 8 2019 - 12:05