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Red Bull maybe ruling the world of sport sponsorship but one of the F1 old guard aren’t content as the brands whipping boys. The relationship between Renault and Red Bull may be crumbling like a fine French cheese, but Renault aren’t taking it as an opportunity to bow out of Formula 1 completely.

In fact they are intending to do the opposite and rise from the smoke of burning rubber, to once again become a fully-fledged manufacturer and team owner.

Renault have been manufacturing engines since selling their own F1 team to investment fund Genii Capital six years ago, who then formed the Lotus F1 team as a result.

For a while the Lotus name was the subject of a fierce rights contest between its current owners and Caterham, who have since left F1 all together. But as Renault regain major F1 status, it could spell the end for the Lotus name in Formula 1.

If all goes to plan Lotus’s current team, based in Enstone, will move back under Renault’s rather large wing. This move by Renault isn’t that uncommon in the incestuous world of F1, both Ferrari and Mercedes run fully functioning F1 teams, whilst at the same time supplying engines to other teams in the championship.

Renault have already come to the rescue once, bailing the Enstone team out of a sizeable tax bill, which could have sunk it into bankruptcy. So in a way they have already begun the takeover process.

It could be an exciting development for F1 as a whole. Unlike a new team entering into the championship, Renault have already mixed it with the big boys and have the resources in place to take them head on. Provided they find a decent driver and deliver a decent car for him to drive, they could be challenging for the podium.

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