Renault Boss Says F1 Looking for a New Chief

Renault's Sports director Patrick Faure has hinted that Formula One carmakers were looking for someone to replace the sport's head Bernie Ecclestone.

"We asked a head hunter to find a new Bernie. He would have an international scale, would know sport well, (be) skilful in terms of marketing and of TV rights, but above all he would be a real boss," Faure said in an interview with Le Journal du Dimanche.

"To avoid any suspicion, this person will not be one of ours, even if Luca di Montezemolo (Ferrari's boss) has the ideal profile," he added.

The major carmakers involved in Formula One are currently in talks with the banks about taking a stake while also planning their own series from 2008.

"It is a good way to put the pressure on if we don't find a deal with the banks and Bernie Ecclestone's family trust who hold the commercial rights of F1," Faure said.

Ecclestone's family trust has 25 percent of the holding company SLEC.

"The part due to the carmakers is today insufficient. Bernie and the commercial partners have to make an effort," he explained.

Faure also took sides with Williams and McLaren, who issued a joint letter two weeks ago criticising the sweeping rule changes introduced by FIA president Max Mosley and announcing that both teams were taking the sport's governing body to arbitration in Switzerland.

"We (Renault) all in all agree with McLaren and Williams. And we are going to write to the president of the FIA," he said.

Faure said the carmakers were unhappy that the new measures of the FIA had come too late.

"It is never nice. The new formula for the qualifying seems good for the show. Other measures are also interesting. But we have to be careful: every change is at first very expensive", he said.