F1 teams complain about Budkowski going to Renault

Marcin Budkowski

(GMM) A few people are uneasy in the Formula 1 paddock over the possibility that former F1 technical chief Marcin Budkowski may be joining Renault.

People come and go all of the time in F1, but the reason that Budkowski's potential Renault marriage is causing such a storm is simple — in his role with F1's governing body, the FIA, Budkowski has been privy to every team's secrets. He's seen all the loopholes exploited, all of the tricks of the trade and aerodynamic intricacies.

Had he left his FIA position a year or two ago, this would not be such an issue, but Budkowski actually resigned on Tuesday. And by regulation, he must remain out of the sport for three months in what is termed a "gardening leave."

Most top teams are already well into development on their 2018 entries, and some are concerned that Budkowski already has intimate knowledge of their cars.

"We will take major issue with that if he does end up in another team," said Red Bull boss Christian Horner. "In these individuals, you place an enormous of trust in the role that Marcin has been responsible for. He has been in an extremely privileged position where he has extremely recently been in people's wind tunnels and been looking at intimate details of knowledge of next year's cars.

"I think the three months' notice period and for him to then turn up in a competitor team in F1 is entirely inappropriate. I hope that isn't the case, and I am sure it will get discussed quite seriously at the next Strategy Group meeting. It is an important part of the role, and it is vital that the teams have trust and faith in the governing body that they can share and discuss their technical know-how and technical secrets in many respects. These cost millions and millions of pounds, and it should be in confidence that that information does not have the ability to end up in a rival team."

Mercedes has dominated in recent years, and even Toto Wolff is concerned about the midfield team benefiting from using secrets to gain an unfair advantage.

"I personally get on with Marcin and wish him success for his career, but we need to look at the (gardening leave's) times," said Wolff. "We need to be transparent with the FIA and give them access, and therefore in order to have the full trust of the teams, it is important to have a certain stability and understanding how quick somebody can leave the FIA and join another competitor team."