Caterham link hints at Renault switch for HRT

UPDATE

Caterham livery

This rumor is downgraded to 'false' today. HRT has denied that a company linked to Caterham bosses Tony Fernandes and Mike Gascoyne is in charge of the Spanish team's 2012 car design.

It was reported in November that HRT was set to work with Cologne based Caterham Technology and Innovation — essentially the design office of the former Toyota F1 team subsequently acquired by the Caterham chiefs.

Allied with the fact HRT did not name an engine supplier for the recent provisional FIA entry list, it triggered speculation the team might also be set to switch from Cosworth to Renault power for 2012.

But in a media statement on Monday, HRT denied that Caterham "will be in charge of the design and fabrication of the F112's monocoque".

The team insisted that its 2012 car is being developed at its own technical office in Munich, adding that HRT "is confident that the new car will be ready for preseason testing in February".

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It was reported at the end of last month that HRT, the struggling Spanish team, is set to begin working with a Cologne company co-owned by Tony Fernandes and Mike Gascoyne.

Fernandes and Gascoyne, best known for heading the Team Lotus/Caterham team, reportedly now also own "the design office of the former Toyota team", according to the BBC in November.

Then, on the provisional 2012 entry list published recently by the FIA, HRT's engine supplier was listed as 'TBA' (to be announced).

In 2010 and 2011, HRT was powered by Cosworth's 2.4 liter V8 engine, while Caterham switched to Renault after last season.

Germany's Speed Week has therefore connected the dots and – given HRT's new link with Caterham – speculates that a switch to Renault could be on the cards.

This season, Virgin and Williams were also powered by Cosworth, but the latter British team is switching to Renault for 2012.

For next year, Renault Sport is already due to supply engines to Red Bull, Lotus, Caterham and Williams.

"Four teams, that's fine," the French carmaker's chief operating officer said last month. "Five? Why not?"