Ecclestone Urges Renault To Take Over Lotus Or Start New Company

F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone called on Renault "not to walk away from Formula 1 and instead return to the days of being a manufacturer team," according to Ian Parkes of AUTOSPORT.

The Renault board is "currently in the process of deciding which route to take in F1," with CEO Carlos Ghosn "known to have held talks" with Ecclestone on the matter. Renault's contract with Red Bull and Toro Rosso to supply engines comes to an end following the '16 season. Renault will "either maintain the status quo, quit F1 altogether or take over Lotus, with talks on that particular matter understood to be at an advanced level."

Ecclestone: "They said they were going to have a look at it and hopefully come up with a decision by September." Asked what he would "like to see happen," Ecclestone said, "I'd like them to take over Lotus, or start a new company on their own."

Another of the issues understood to be facing Renault "is the level of debt Lotus finds itself in, and how to approach that if it returns to Enstone."

Ecclestone: "They won't take the debt on. They're hoping the people that put the debt in will write the debt off. But let's see what happens. It would be nice to think they won't disappear." Autosport