Results 1 to 6 of 6

Thread: Renault F1 team signs former FIA technical head Marcin Budkowski

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    127.0.0.1
    Posts
    2,405
    My Cars
    TBD

    Renault F1 team signs former FIA technical head Marcin Budkowski

    This hasn't been talked about and I think it's important enough for a wee chat.

    Full Reuter's Article

    Obviously, Toto and Horner have been quite vocal about this. It's understandable since Budkowski has intimate knowledge of their 2018 CFD designs, their wind tunnel data, their computing/processing power and software, their individual designs - including but not limited to suspension, aero, cooling, PU, etc.

    The FIA mandates a 3 month gardening leave but Renault has said they would extend it to 6 months.

    Basically, a guy with "full" knowledge of other teams entries for the 2018 season will be starting work for Renault F1 next year.


    When moving from team to team there's generally a 6 month to a year of "gardening" leave. But it's not uncommon - it happens all the time. However, this is a guy with secret information of ALL the teams going to Renault.

    He also knows the rules and regs better than anyone else in F1 since he's responsible for them and their "correct" interpretation. Therefore he knows where the loopholes are the other teams are using (in secret) and he knows just how much he's able to squeeze past scrutiny while still being legal.

    It really has put the cat amongst the pigeons but it's one huge coup for Renault. I think the FIA is going to be inundated with teams filing protest next year.

    Highly interesting.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Chattanooga, TN
    Posts
    9,073
    My Cars
    '94 MX-6
    Sounds sketchy to me. As much as I'm in favor of another team breaking Merc's dominance, I agree with you that other teams can't help but protest the move.

    Especially in light of Renault's involvement in Crashgate a decade ago, this won't help their credibility.
    Current: '94 MX-6 V6/5 • '72 240Z • '10 Mazda5
    Past: '02 330i/5 • '85 RX-7 GSL-SE • '95 540i/6'95 525i/5'86 635CSi/5 • '88 JZA70 • '86 4K quattro • '85 RX-7 S
    Wish list: Type 44 • Manta • Pre-'85 CGT • 405 Mi16 • SVX • W123 Coupe

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    127.0.0.1
    Posts
    2,405
    My Cars
    TBD
    Crashgate and they were found with full McLaren drawings on their computers during Spygate but nothing ever came of it.

    Technical heads do move teams - even in the last few years we've had technical directors James Allison jump to Ferrari then to Merc and Paddy Lowe from Merc to Williams. Then there's the RB aero chief Peter Prodromou who moved to McLaren and within a couple of weeks we see RB style front wings on it. So people jump and take data with them however there's normally a longer gardening period. And it's obvious to some that they implement the ideas/concepts from their previous teams.

    This time the guy knows literally everything about every team and intimately so.

    The difference here, I believe, is scope. 1 team's info vs every team's. And, obviously, duration of gardening leave. Also, that he's come from the governing bodies operation.

    I guess when teams hire ex-michelin/bridgestone/pirelli people it would be similar too.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2001
    Location
    Location
    Posts
    7,440
    My Cars
    F150, Suburban, M3
    Honda should have thought of this...

    "It's not the people who vote that count, it's the people who count the votes."
    -DNC

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    127.0.0.1
    Posts
    2,405
    My Cars
    TBD
    Quote Originally Posted by badmonkey View Post
    Honda should have thought of this...

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Raleigh, NC
    Posts
    17,072
    My Cars
    SR-71 Blackbird
    Interdasting.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by badmonkey View Post
    Honda should have thought of this...
    No, they won't.



Similar Threads

  1. HRT reportedly buys Toyota former F1 team
    By Hugo in forum Professional Motorsports sponsored by Bimmerworld
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 07-26-2010, 02:02 PM
  2. FIA could reject former BMW F1 team because its financial backer is a crook
    By Hugo in forum Professional Motorsports sponsored by Bimmerworld
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 11-25-2009, 04:05 PM
  3. "BMW Sauber F1 Team" registered with the FIA.
    By Kevlar in forum Professional Motorsports sponsored by Bimmerworld
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: 12-16-2005, 07:50 AM
  4. All-American F1 team?
    By Preppy in forum Professional Motorsports sponsored by Bimmerworld
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 09-30-2002, 01:57 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •