Renault aims by 2020 to place in Formula 1 a driver trained with its Academy. Renault managing director team, Cyril Abiteboul planed to rely the private stables that team provides.
According to reports, the head of the 2018 promotion will be British-Korean Jack Aitken, who at the age of 22 will discover Formula 2.
“For the moment, we don’t have a plan but if you look at the means available to access F1, being able to use another team to have a confirmation of the capabilities of a driver is very useful. We have this opportunity thanks to our work as an engine supplier.” Abiteboul said.
“Our plans for the next few years are very clear with Red Bull and McLaren but that’s something we are clearly taking into account as we are building and starting to think the long-term strategy of our engine supply activity.” Abiteboul added.
McLaren and Red Bull are big structure, too prestigious to accept a young Renault driver in its ranks. Renault should actually collaborate with smaller teams to place its young drivers.
“There is always a link between your engine supply strategy and your strategy of developing young drivers. We are looking at what Mercedes has done with a number of teams in the past. That will also happen to us at some point in time.” Abiteboul said.
“We cannot disconnect the engine supply and the Renault Academy. For the moment, we have a legacy for when we are only an engine supplier in the relationship with Red Bull but as we build the next cycle of the strategy for engine supply activity we need to take that on board.
“This is the goal of the Renault Sport Academy: to bring one of its young drivers into Formula 1 by 2020.” the 40-year-old man added.
Robert Kubica and Sergey Sorotkin. (Source:www.dailyexpress.co.uk)
Renault was able to attract the services of Carlos Sainz accepting that Toro Rosso broke its contract engine to sign with Honda for this season.
When asked about why the team ignored two drivers they tested Robert Kubica and Sirotkin, the Frenchman told they had focused on Carlos Sainz.
“We had an alternative option of Robert Kubica and Sergey Sirotkin, tested by Renault, an alternative related to engine negotiations for 2018.” Abiteboul said.
“This is further evidence that you cannot disconnect your engine supply strategy from your driver selection strategy.” he added.
