JUNE 22, 2006

Renault and Toro Rosso

When it comes to Formula 1 anything is possible and so one has to consider the possibility that Renault will do a deal with Scuderia Toro Rosso, if only so as to have a place to put Heikki Kovalainen in 2007. Gerhard Berger has been saying that this deal is in the pipeline but one wonders why the Austrian is saying such things publicly as traditionally people do not talk about engine deals until they are done. The logic therefore is that it is part of the negotiating process to get a better deal from Ferrari. However, one must also consider that Renault probably will need to find something for Kovalainen to do if, as is being rumoured, Kimi Raikkonen signs a deal with Renault. The whole market continues to hinge on the future of Michael Schumacher because none of the top drivers are going to move at the moment - unless they are worried about their futures.

In F1 a deal is never 80% done so we must wait to see whether Scuderia Toro Rosso really does do a deal with Renault or whether it goes down the far more logical route and uses the Red Bull Racing supply of Ferrari V8 engines, allowing RBR to switch to Cosworth.