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Renault confident Liberty will prevent rivals exploting 'B teams'

Published on 19 Sep 2018 10:30
6
By: Fergal Walsh

Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul says he expects Formula 1's owners Liberty Media to take steps to stop major outfits using 'B' teams in order to gain an advantage in the spending and development area.

A budget cap is set to be introduced for the 2021 season, but there are some concerns that manufacturer teams could exploit the spending rules by partnering up with its customers to share the cost of engine development.

Abiteboul pointed at Force India's recent situation, as Renault wanted assurances that it wouldn't become Mercedes' B team when it was saved from administration and taken over by new management over the summer break.

“If Force India is becoming a junior team of Mercedes, allowing Mercedes to transfer resources or workload and therefore improving their competitive situation vis-à-vis a future budget cap, that’s a concern because we don’t have that set-up,” Abiteboul told RaceFans.net.

“Basically that would sanction the fact that you need that type of set-up, because that would be available for Mercedes and that’s already available for Ferrari, and Red Bull have the capacity also [and] assets available. So all three top teams will be in that situation and we are not. So that’s a major concern.”

“If Liberty do what they say they will do, which I have no reason to doubt, which is a more equitable financial distribution, I don’t see the necessity of keeping on having some senior team, super team, junior team.”

Freguz

Posts: 160

A B-team helping their A-team out on the track, and acting as a roadblock to other teams, that is not very elevating either. Put an end to this B-team concept instead...

1
Sep 19 2018 - 12:56

F1 News Force India Ferrari Renault Mercedes

Replies (6)

kngrthr

Posts: 203
this sport needs engine development.

also if B teams mean we get 6 competitive teams , i think that's an improvement
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- Sep 19 2018 - 12:46
Freguz

Posts: 160
A B-team helping their A-team out on the track, and acting as a roadblock to other teams, that is not very elevating either. Put an end to this B-team concept instead...
- + 1
- Sep 19 2018 - 12:56
- mcbhargav
  
  Posts: 1,332
  Truly agree that, B team's should not be used as blockers. But, I think, FIA could sign a new piece of rule to get it fixed.
  + 0
  
  Sep 19 2018 - 19:37
mcbhargav

Posts: 1,332
No entity, person, or an ideology will be able to prevent something that is economical, and logical. How about, acquiring/fielding it's own B team: Mitsubishi-Nissan F1 along with Infiniti-Renault.
- + 0
- Sep 19 2018 - 19:35
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  I think Renault are intending for McLaren to become their de facto B-team.
  + 0
  
  Sep 19 2018 - 20:43
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
I think we sadly need B-teams if F1 is currently to survive. If we didnt have them, we'd probably have a grid of 7 teams or so, and even F1 wouldnt realistically survive that. Maybe with 3 car teams, but we'd see a similar issue with those, I guarantee it. FIA instead need to clamp down on how much influence one team can have over the other. Parts and such? Sure thing. Team orders? No thanks.
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- Sep 19 2018 - 20:42