‘Carlos Ghosn departure not to affect Renault F1 operations’
abu dhabi — Carlos Ghosn’s financial scandal will not have any impact on the racing team, Renault team principal Cyril Abiteboul said in Abu Dhabi.
Ghosn was Renault’s former CEO and chairman, and a key figure in the racing team but Cyril said there was continuity in all operations with COO Thierry Bollore being appointed as temporary chief executive. “Carlos Ghosn was instrumental in the decision to return in late 2015 but obviously it’s not just one man’s decision. It was debated at length in executive committee, at board level, and that was the decision of the company. We have been racing in Formula 1 since more than 40 years. We are partway on the journey of a long-term plan — six years. Six years to build the team, six years to hopefully challenge other teams. That’s where the focus is at the minute. Thierry Bollore is no stranger to Formula 1 as he has been a director of the board of the team since 2016. So obviously this is where we need to focus and support Renault in that overall continuity,” Cyril said during the press conference ahead of Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Cyril ruled out any Ghosn-impact on team’s operations.
“We have no information that there will be any impact. We don’t see any reason why there would be more impact on this programme than on anything else. For the time being: continuity, focus on what we have to do, which is complete the championship in the best possible way this weekend and then focus on the second phase of our plan in Formula 1, and this is the success that will matter, the success or lack of success, and this is where I need to deliver.”
Cyril said Renault, as of now, remained committed to Formula One. “The reason we joined Formula One are still here today — for exposure and technology development. There is no reason why those factors are suddenly going away in case of any development, for which I don’t want to speculate at this point in time. So if Formula One is still a good value proposition in the past, it has no reason not to be also in the future. It will, in my opinion, be in our hands and this is where I will be focusing my efforts rather than in speculation. It’s in our hands to deliver the best possible result for the best given cost to the company that will then continue to monitor this activity as any other activity. I have absolutely no indication that for instance, Thierry Bollore is not keen on Formula One. Again, he’s a director of our company, has very good knowledge of what we are doing, so optimism, no scepticism, just focusing on facts and what we need to deliver,” Cyril added.