Lotus: Renault works return would be fantastic for F1 - MotorSportsTalk

Federico Gastaldi believes that a possible return of a Renault works team to Formula 1 through a takeover of Lotus would be highly positive for the sport.

Lotus is currently in talks with Renault about a buy-out for the 2016 season, but is yet to agree a deal with the French manufacturer.

Renault last enjoyed works status back in 2010 before selling the operation to what has now become Lotus F1 Team, working out of the Enstone base.

Speaking ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, deputy team principal Gastaldi made his thoughts on a possible return for Renault clear, saying that the financially-blighted Lotus would welcome such a deal with open arms.

“It would be fantastic for the sport and a mega-positive note for Enstone to see their return, but until any deal is signed, sealed and delivered we keep focused on our current tasks,” Gastaldi said.

“It would be a very different project for Enstone and there’s been a lot of change over the past few years since they last had a full works team entry.

“Here in Enstone we’re used to adapting and making the most of situations. Certainly we would relish any opportunity to be a works team and welcome them back!”

Gastaldi made no secret of the Lotus’ recent struggles, having faced a great deal of financial uncertainty in the past few months thanks to court orders and delayed sponsorship payments.

However, he urged caution to those reading reports on the future of the team, no matter how lean it has been operating.

“They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” Gastaldi said. “I can confirm that the team is very much alive but we have been going through a very strenuous workout programme this season!

“Things have certainly been tight and we’ve embraced the Japanese just-in-time philosophy a little too literally on occasions. All this has been necessary but we keep fighting the good fight.

“We believe in the team; we believe in Formula 1 and we believe we’ll still be here fighting for the rest of this season and beyond. Don’t believe any of the negative rumors you hear.”

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An IndyCar executive said there is “absolutely” disappointment that its long-awaited video game recently was delayed beyond its target date, but the series remains optimistic about the new title.

“Well, I don’t know how quick it will be, but the whole situation is important to us,” Penske Entertainment president and CEO Mark Miles said during a news conference Monday morning to announce IndyCar’s NTT title sponsorship. “Motorsport Games has spent a lot of money, a lot of effort to create an IndyCar title. What we’ve seen of that effort, which is not completely obvious, is very reassuring.

“I think it’s going to be outstanding. That’s our shared objective, that when it is released, it’s just widely accepted. A great credit both to IndyCar racing, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, something that our fans love.”

In June 2021, IndyCar announced a new partnership with Motorsport Games to create and distribute an IndyCar video game for the PC and Xbox and PlayStation consoles in 2023.

But during an earnings call last week, Motorsport Games said the IndyCar game had been delayed to 2024 to ensure high quality.

Somewhat compounding the delay is that IndyCar’s license for iRacing expired after the end of the 2022 season because of its exclusive agreement with Motorsport Games.

That’s resulted in significant changes for IndyCar on iRacing, which had provided a high-profile way for the series to stay visible during its 2020 shutdown from the pandemic. (Players still can race an unbranded car but don’t race on current IndyCar tracks, nor can they stream).

That’s helped ratchet up the attention on having a video game outlet for IndyCar.

“I wish we had an IndyCar title 10 years ago,” said Miles, who has been working with the organization since 2013. “We’ve been close, but we’ve had these I think speed bumps.”

IndyCar is hopeful the Motorsports Game edition will be ready at the start of 2024. Miles hinted that beta versions could be unveiled to reporters ahead of the time “to begin to show the progress in a narrow way to make sure we’ve got it right, to test the progress so that we’re ready when they’re ready.”

It’s been nearly 18 years since the release of the most recent IndyCar video game for console or PC.

“(We) better get it right,” Miles said. “It’s something we’re very close to and continue to think about what it is to make sure we get it over the line in due course.”