Renault to make F1 decision by year's end

Nov 05, 2009

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PARIS – Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn said Thursday the automaker will announce whether it will stay in Formula One racing before the year ends.

Asked if Renault plans to pull out of the sport, he said the company will announce its "strategy in terms of Renault's role in Formula One" before 2010.

Renault's reputation was recently damaged by a crash scandal that led to team principal Flavio Briatore's indefinite ban from the sport.

Briatore ordered former driver Nelson Piquet Jr. to crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix to improve teammate Fernando Alonso's chances of victory.

Since the weekend, Bridgestone and Toyota announced they were leaving the sport. BMW exited at the conclusion of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Honda dropped out before the season started.

thestar.com