F1 RACING AUGUST 2019 57on both counts.
Enstone and Viry therefore went their
separateways. Mated to Red Bull chassis,
Renault engines powered Sebastian Vettel to
four consecutive world titles between 2010
and 2013. Stability in the rules, permission to
‘equalise’ its engine design with rivals over the
winter of ’08, and clever tuning that enabled
exhaust gases to boost aerodynamic downforce
combined towinning effect.
But to what benefit for Renault? Asa
manufacturer, it enjoyed political clout aspart
of a bloc negotiating with Formula 1 ringmaster
Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA for a greater
share of prize monies and more influence over
rulemaking. As an engine supplier, it was stuck
on the sidelines as Ecclestone cut favourable
deals with the likes of Mercedes, Ferrari and
Red Bull, guaranteeing them a larger proportion
of the commercial revenues and permanent
seats onthe new Strategy Group.
The core team at Enstone initially remained
stable under Genii’s ownership, racing under
the Lotus banner following atransition in- Race operations were sharp and thecars
innovative, if only intermittently successful,
but Kimi Räikkönen won two races for the
team in 2012 and 2013.
Behind the scenes,though, money was
becoming aproblem. Debts mounted and staff
drifted away or were let go. Key figures such
as technical director James Allison and aero
chief Dirk de Beer left. Räikkönen himself sat
out the last two grandsprix of 2013, ostensibly
because of back surgery but actually because
he hadn’t been paid.
Having ended 2013 with arguably the second
fastest car on the grid, Lotus fell to the back of
the field in the first season of the hybrid era as
its chassis – and the new Renault power unit–
emerged undercooked.
It staggered on through 2015 with a modified
’14 car, now propelled by a Mercedes engine, but
by then the owners were smoking this particular
cigar downto the stub.
Come summer, creditors (including Her
Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) were filing
winding-up orders in the High Court. Hardly
surprising: the accounts reveal debts of
£107million in 2014.Renaultenginespowered
RedBull tofourconsecutive
worldtitledoubles,butthe
relationshipwasfractiousand
theenginesupplierfeltitnever
gotthecredititdeserved