INFINITI to end Renault F1 involvement

Japanese car manufacturer INFINITI has announced it will conclude its involvement in Formula 1 at the end of the year.

INFINITI joined the sport in 2011 as a commercial partner for Red Bull, before becoming title sponsor a season later and partnering the team in three of four championship seasons.

The company has been more involved in recent years as a partner to Renault, using its hybrid technology knowledge to help develop the energy recovery system [ERS] since 2016.

Renault team principal Cyril Abiteboul believes INFINITI’s involvement has provided the team with an advantage over the course of the hybrid era.

“They’ve brought their significant experience in electrified performance to the team, which has been a crucial element of this partnership.

“But, in addition, being part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance meant that we could also collaborate together in innovative and groundbreaking projects such as the INFINITI Project Black S and the INFINITI Engineering Academy, which wouldn’t have been possible in any other context.

“The close collaboration we could establish with INFINITI since the beginning has been very beneficial for both parties; we’ve enjoyed every minute of it and are very proud of everything we’ve accomplished together.

“We wish INFINITI all the best in their future endeavours and remain open to new – and no doubt equally successful – collaborations with them in the future.”