bosyber wrote: ↑04 Aug 2019, 10:51
carisi2k wrote: ↑04 Aug 2019, 10:36
Renault are better off forgetting about 2020 and should focus solely on 2021 and the new regulations since putting any more money in to this dead duck will be a waste of money.
I think ESPImperium is right that waiting until then is too late - they need to see, and show themselves and their drivers that they can make a good step with a car for next year. Otherwise, why would they have more success for 2021? Had they had a clear progress this year (indeed, like McLaren are showing), I would agree with you, but now, the do really need to have a clear path forward in my opinion.
And even if it isn't about the chassis, their track operations and management of the race weekend need to become more consistent and/or inventive - as it is they seem both risk averse and less than solid at the same time. Toyota is a sad, but apt, warning comparison. While I don't fully trust whenever Horner says something, Cyril does really only seem to be there as the default political appointee, and that's not a way to run a team (if only Vasseur had been the one to be retained).
You have where I'm coming from.
F1 often has the warning signs in its past, Toyota is the warning sign I'm looking at. In 2008 and 2009 they had the opportunity to win more than one race. The Chassis was there, but the management wasn't inventive enough, the Singapore races both years come to mind, had they pitted earlier they could have won, especially on the first stop, 2008 was a waste for them on strategy if i remember.
Renault have their superstar driver, that is one thing they have over the Toyota example, as Glock, Trulli and Kobayashi are all good drivers, but they are all number 2s. This is where I'm seeing Hulkenberg these days, Riccardo is a superstar, and must be treated as the way Toyota were going to treat Kimi for 2010, until Ferrari paid him another €20m over his €20m salary he could have had at Ferrari if they kept him for 2010, Kimi went Rallying and not to Toyota for €28m a year. It was the final straw for Toyota management.
I feel that if they don't get atop the chassis to McLaren levels presently, they will be P7 this year, even P8. They can't afford to do this. In a race of randomness, like Germany, they need to be more inventive, however keep warning their drivers to be careful as a race like this is often won in the last 5 laps or so, especially when weather can be a great leveller for lower teams on the chassis side.
Im just wondering right now, Mclaren offered Riccardo a rumoured €21.5m contract for 2 years last year, he chose the Renault seat for €23.5m. Im wondering if he is thinking he should have gone there if he was to leave Red Bull, or should he have stayed at Red Bull. What is clear, Sainz is showing why i have always liked him since i saw him drive in GP3 in 2013.Sainz i often think is a forgotten man of F1, however last years Renault against Hulkenberg as Hulkenberg was only outscored by 16 points, and this year he is now coming into his own.
Id like the team to become more inventive, less like the now failed committee route that has been shown to be a failure at many F1 teams, McLaren are the latest to ditch this, Ferrari have ditched it and Sauber had it until Vasseur came along and changed it. They need the modern classic lay out, with a Team Principle, a Technical Director and a person looking after the drivers or some other element. Dare i say, they need to ditch Cyril and go get someone like Bullier back as he is a racer, give him a year or two to get the mix right and then go.
But ill say this only once, the Mercedes employment contract is something to behold in F1, its easy to join, they even give you a massive bounty to do so, but when it comes to leaving, its another thing... The gardening leave is 2 years, however they move you from F1 to other motorsport activities for 18 months, then sit you out for the final 6 months. It makes leaving harder, and limits the technology transfer from one team to another. It means by the time you have got your feet under your new desk, you don't have much value to your new employer as you don't have much relevant data to give them. Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull over the last 15 years have had issues retaining staff in their dominant year or years, Mercedes don't have that issue as they almost seal you into a long term arrangement, but they pay you well, very well for this arrangement. The technology transfer in F1 from Mercedes to others is shockingly low. This is one area that would speed up the other teams, and if the FIA don't do anything about this in the sporting regulations, we many have a Mercedes decade or more of domination. Other teams use the 6 month gardening leave rule, the Mercedes team uses the UKs strong IP and Employment laws to enforce a full 2 years of gardening leave for their employees. Even employees that have ended their contract have to sit out away from other F1 teams for 2 years as per UK laws, these employees often end up at Le Mans P1 and P2 teams for that period. Renault did a good one in getting Budkowski in the team, although they had to wait for their man. But their key appointments are not great.
I think Renault needs to get rid of the political appointments, get racers in there to do the job. If they need a political man in there, have them as sporting director as then they will do the best for the team and the best for the company and its brand.
Theres more than the chassis not quite right at Renault. They have all the tools at the factory now, they have a good Simulator, Driver Wellness facility, machinery and design suites. The problems i think are in human structures and this is affecting getting performance on the car. Appart from Alfa who don't have a simulator yet and Haas who share the Ferrari one, they are the only team who don't use their simulator during any practice session due to the fact they don't have a simulator driver like what Mclaren have in Turvey, Mercedes in Vandoorne and Guiteriez, Red Bull in Da Costa and Buemi, Ferrari in Hartley and Wheirlein, Williams have Rowland, Racing Point have various and Toro Rosso in Liuzzi.