Faure: Renault needs results

The arrival of Ghosn last year, who replaced the very pro-F1 Louis Schweitzer, has served to fuel speculation that Renault could be set to follow Ford in deciding to withdraw from F1 because the costs of competing do not justify continued involvement.

It is widely believed that although Ghosn is not completely against motorsport activities, he is sceptical of the returns that F1 provides for manufacturers compared to the huge costs involved in competing.

But speaking at the launch of the team's new R25 in Monaco on Tuesday, Faure made it clear that Ghosn was fully behind the company's continued participation in F1 - providing that the team enjoyed a certain level of competitiveness.

"I don't know where this comes from," said Faure, referring to reports that Ghosn does not like F1. "I have discussed it with him very clearly and he has said, 'go on'. He said he is interested if we have results

"If we have good results then we are there, especially if we can find a way of reducing costs which we have started now. But he is not pro or anti F1 - he is pro good results for Renault which happen to be a good investment."

When asked whether Renault was in a position, therefore, to follow Ferrari's lead and commit to F1 beyond 2007 and the end of the current Concorde Agreement, the document by which F1 is run, Faure said: "Nobody can be sure about 2008.

"The only thing I am sure is that for the moment nothing is clear about what is happening after 2008 - so let's clarify what will happen, see what championship we are going to have and then we will discuss the participation of teams like Renault, Honda and Ferrari."

Renault has been one of the key members of the manufacturer-led plans for a breakaway series.