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Renault: no plans to leave F1

Renault have no plans to pull out of Formula One and the future involvement of the French company is not in doubt, president Carlos Ghosn said today, quashing the numerous rumours that surrounded the team in the past couple of months

Stories have circulated for some time suggesting that Renault are set to withdraw from Formula One at the end of this season, or put the team on sale, or cut back their involvement in the sport.

But Ghosn made it clear Renault will continue to race in Formula One as long as they can be competitive, while Flavio Briatore blamed the French press for spreading false rumours about the marque.

Speaking about Renault's F1 future in a prepared video clip for the team launch today, Ghosn stated: "As long as we continue to perform well and offer a good show and be at the top level of F1, then there is no question about the future.

"There is obviously some uncertainty about the conditions starting in 2008, of how F1 will involve, but that is a matter for all manufacturers to be concerned with. We want to come to a good solution, but as long as F1 has a good return for manufacturers and investors, then we should be there."

On his part, Renault team boss Briatore lashed out at the French press, who he believes are responsible for the speculations that have surrounded the team in the last few months.

"I read in the French press that Renault are going to leave F1 this year, and that was specifically the French press," the Italian said at Monaco.

"We have heard what the president said, and maybe the journalists need a new job. So they had false information which they disseminated everywhere.

"The French always ask for a French driver. But we have a French team that is winning. We have a press conference where Renault say they will stay in F1 with the same condition as Toyota, BMW, the Germans, Honda... The five of us want the same conditions. I think everybody except the French press understand that."

Ghosn also explained why Renault, who posted a rise of 6 per cent in combined sales in 2005, have every business reason to stay in Formula One.

"Winning the championships was without any doubt a great boost to everybody inside Renault, our partners and dealers," Ghosn said.

"This led to a boost in the knowledge of the Renault brand, too. It is known in France, but when you go to countries where Renault is not as known - like in India, Asia - then winning in F1 gave a us big improvement in terms of knowledge and fame of the brand.

"On top of this, I should say one of the reason we had the double championship in 2005 was the reliability of the car; it failed less than the competitors'. This is important, because it is something we want to associate with the Renault brand."

Patrick Faure, Renault F1 Team's president, followed up on his superior's analysis and promised the Formula One team will contribute even further to the marketing of the road car division.

"We will try and use it a lot more than in the past, make a closer link between F1 and the road cars," the Frenchman said. "So we will work in advertising, communications and marketing.

"And we will also develop more high range sporting products to make the link between F1 and Renault products more visible."

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