In the round-up: Frederic Vasseur explains why he’s stepped down from Renault after just one season.
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Vasseur says differing views on Renault's F1 plans behind exit (Motorsport)
"The reason is that there was too much different vision in the management of the team, so at this stage I think it makes sense for me to leave."
Why Vasseur had to leave Renault (Motorsport Magazine)
"He pleaded with Abiteboul that he needed to be more empowered, but that was never granted. Speaking with him towards the end of last season it was clear that his frustration was building."
Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne on Trump: 'We need clarity' (Detroit Free Press)
"Marchionne, who has been CEO of both Chrysler and Fiat since the Italian automaker took a controlling interest in the automaker in 2009, also confirmed today that he plans to retire after 2018. Today, Marchionne said his retirement will occur in early 2019.quot;
Ricciardo first in line to sample 2017 challenger (F1i)
"Daniel Ricciardo will have precedence over Max Verstappen when Red Bull Racing's 2017 RB13 hits the track on February 27 in Barcelona."
Why Williams is Paddy Lowe's chance for an Adrian Newey-esque legacy (ESPN)
"Pat Symonds has departed Williams, a polite way of saying he was abruptly shown the door a year ahead of his intended retirement date, leaving one or two unhappy technicians in his wake."
McLaren & Me: Martin Brundle (McLaren)
"I'd had a big accident basically, and been hit on the head by Verstappen's car. There was a big mark on my helmet, but luckily for me the rollover hoop took a lot of the energy. It was the closest I ever came to dying in a racing car."
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That probably isn't the kind of surprise he meant. #F1 https://t.co/dHiAAwfcZq pic.twitter.com/ALdtjgsw3p
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Comment of the day
Ben offers a view on Hamilton’s hectic 2016 itinerary:
In a world of private planes, luxury apartments and personal physicians, I don’t think you can say it’s any different to jetting back home after every grand prix. As long as he isn’t drinking himself stupid and not sleeping, then I don’t think it makes much difference to his performance on track.
I’m by no means a Hamilton fan, but if you can find me a driver who promotes the sport worldwide as much as him then I’ll be very surprised!
Frankly I think most people’s objection to his lifestyle is spawned from pure jealousy. I’d love to be able to see the world as he does, but he has the means to do it and does it. Fair play to him.
Ben Needham (@Ben-n)
From the forum
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Jay Menon (@jaymenon10)
12th January 2017, 1:03
I tend to agree with Maurice Hamilton’s article (not his paraphrasing of Alan Titchmarsh!).
Paddy Lowe will be going to Williams to do an Adrian Newey at Red Bull. Obviously, this will prove a lot more difficult given the financial constraints at Williams in comparison to the relative freedom Newey had thanks Red Bull’s deep pockets. Williams aren’t in too bad a place though, thanks to Stroll Sr, they’ve got a healthy injection of cash, and plus the pay off from Mercedes for Bottas, they’d probably cover the loss of 4th place in the Constructors. This should see them being fairly comfortable through 2017 and this will be fertile grounds for Lowe to sow his seeds (thanks Titchmarsh).
Red Bull proved in 09 and 10 that you can win as a customer, and there is no reason Williams can’t either. Im not saying they can win the championship in the near term, but they certain are capable of winning races. With Lowe’s recent experience at Mercedes he will bring a whole new perspective to team structure, technical management, trackside operations and race strategy.
2018 could be a bright year for Williams, thats exactly what Lowe would have his sights on.
BasCB (@bascb)
12th January 2017, 6:36
Off course he will. Makes a lot of sense
ruliemaulana (@ruliemaulana)
12th January 2017, 1:09
Today round-up should include notable tweet from Renault it self > https://twitter.com/RenaultSportF1/status/819202577913040897
Wesley (@)
12th January 2017, 23:19
Rumors of Pastor coming back must be true. They are fire proofing the cars.
Fletch (@fletchuk)
12th January 2017, 1:33
Is that official then that Pat Symonds has left Williams? I don’t recall seeing an official announcement anywhere?
If so that’s a sad way for him to end his career. What he achieved with Renault was remarkable as well as his recent work with Williams.
I’ve also loved watching his recent interviews where he gives great incites to the sport and the technical aspects in a really relatable way.
Armchair Expert (@armchairexpert)
12th January 2017, 6:22
http://www.williamsf1.com/racing/news/chief-technical-officer-pat-symonds-to-leave-williams
Juzh (@juzh)
12th January 2017, 10:00
Symonds was basically the only one in the paddock who gave proper technical answers.
Tata
12th January 2017, 2:07
Wikipedia states that Abiteboul joined Renault in 2001. So could this after all the brouhaha about the future of the team and decision making, simply boil down to a case of someone – in this case Abiteboul, feeling more important at Renault than the newly recruited Vasseur?
Vasseur is an known winner who motorsports fans have seen in several racing series and who has managed drivers such as Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel who went on to become legends of motor racing.
But Cyril Abiteboul? It remains to be seen what his contribution to the sport will be.
It certainly does not bode well for any team to have such in-fighting when they have not made much progress.
I am not happy that Vasseur had to leave as I would have loved to see Renault rise rapidly to the front where she belongs
anon
12th January 2017, 7:41
Tata, on the other hand, it has to be said that some of the drivers that Vasseur has been working with in more recent years are perhaps not quite of the same calibre, such as Esteban Gutiérrez and Alfonso Celis Jr.
Neil (@neilosjames)
12th January 2017, 8:09
But there’s also been Vandoorne and Ocon in recent years (at ART – assuming Vasseur worked with both), who more than make up for Gutierrez and almost make up for Celis.
Especially in the last decade or so, it’d be rare to find any lower-formula team boss who hasn’t had to work with the less-talented but well-backed kids.
Joao (@johnmilk)
12th January 2017, 11:10
@neilosjames he also worked with Hulkenberg.
In his statement he says that the hardest part of the decision was to accept the fact that he won’t be able to work with Hulkenberg the next season, especially after convincing him to leave FI for Renault.
Vasseur also said that he talked a week before with him, in order to inform him previously of the decision, and that he understood, it reamains however to be seen what Hulk thinks of all this. Nevertheless, his comments yesterdays regarding the surprises that Renault might have, were already made in the knowledge of Vasseur’s departure
petebaldwin (@)
12th January 2017, 9:31
Vasseur is a very knowledgeable guy and from what we’ve seen so far, Abiteboul doesn’t have a clue. If Vasseur has left because of a disagreement with Abiteboul, you know Renault are going to be heading the wrong direction. It’d be like hearing that Newey left Red Bull over a disagreement with Helmet Marko over the design of a new front wing – whatever was said between them, you know that Newey would have been right!
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
12th January 2017, 2:30
Cyril is a disease.
Mikhail (@zukman)
12th January 2017, 6:54
He will make Renault Caterham again.
mmertens
12th January 2017, 17:39
Great article by Brundle! I’ve always admired Hakkinen craft, it’s great to have the insight from someone who raced against the greats!
PorscheF1 (@xtwl)
12th January 2017, 19:48
I’m by no means a Hamilton fan, but if you can find me a driver who promotes the sport worldwide as much as him then I’ll be very surprised!
What does he do so much more than others I always ask? Feature in a perfume advertisement? He’s a triple world champion and the most recent big one, it’s quite logical he is sort of the face of the sport, just as Schumacher was before, and Vettel, and Alonso,…
Luke Harrison
12th January 2017, 20:32
COTD:
“I’m by no means a Hamilton fan, but if you can find me a driver who promotes the sport worldwide as much as him then I’ll be very surprised!”
I disagree. I think Hamilton spends more time promoting himself than the sport.
DB-C90 (@dbradock)
12th January 2017, 23:52
+1 my thoughts exactly
DB-C90 (@dbradock)
13th January 2017, 1:15
Renault news just seems to get worse – they are trying to emulate the Ferrari management style.
While they are essentially separate entities, I wonder how much of this dispute over direction will spill over to Viry and the PU production.
All of a sudden I can see RBR’s 2017 aspirations going out the window.