From GMM

Speculation has stepped up a gear that 2009 could be Renault's last season in formula one.

It all started a few weeks ago when it appeared that Flavio Briatore, Renault's F1 team boss, was summoned to an emergency meeting with the French carmaker's Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn.

This week, team president Bernard Rey said that the Enstone based squad's parent Renault Group has pledged its support for "this year".

This comment was followed by whispers in F1 circles that team management may have informed the latest meeting of the FOTA alliance that Renault engines will not be available to customer teams beyond 2009.

Sources are also reporting that nearly 100 staff at Enstone will shortly be shed, ostensibly due to the newly installed cost-saving measures.

In fact, the sources said precisely 98 staff may now already have been given notice that their employ is to end.

The sources informed that the majority of the losses will be limited to both the test team and the aerodynamic department.


Photo Credit : Renault