F1 News
Kravitz convinces: ''Renault must do everything possible to bring in Alonso''
- GPblog.com
From 2021 Renault will have no more customers, no more leader now that Daniel Ricciardo is leaving for McLaren and also a car that looks less like that of McLaren and Racing Point. What does the future of Renault look like in Formula 1?
Persona non grata
''They'll just be on their own and have to take care of all the feedback themselves. We have to wait and see how good Esteban Ocon is and if he can lead that team. Renault will also be afraid that Mercedes will bring him back, so do you want to make him your leader? It's ironic that Renault has a great lineup, but it's falling apart now," said Johnny Herbert in Sky Sports' Vodcast.
It's going to be a tough year for Daniel Ricciardo in particular, as he has already announced he will leave at the end of 2020. ''You soon become persona non grata within a team. People are withholding information from you and that's not nice. The question is whether Renault will soon be ready for a character like Alonso or whether they will put Ocon in charge''.
Alonso the ideal successor
The danger in the deal with Ocon is his tires with Mercedes. Ocon has a two-year contract with Renault and can't be taken away during that time, but with Toto Wolff as his manager he can always step back and pass on information after that contract. Does Renault want such a driver as the leader of the team?
''Cyril always manages to bring in good drivers and if Alonso is available, you'll have to put all the money and time in to bring him in. Then you have to take his character for granted, because he's worth it. If Ocon leaves after his deal, you'll need someone who can lead the team,'' Ted Kravitz concludes.