Williams revived memories of their Formula One glory years on Monday by announcing a return next year to the Renault engines that powered them to a string of heart-stirring titles in the 1990s.
The team, who are currently with Cosworth and also have a relationship with Indian-owned Jaguar outside of Formula One, said in a statement they had agreed a long-term chassis-engine partnership with the French manufacturer.
The deal means the British team will use the same engines as world champions Red Bull next season and 2013, with a view to continuing after the introduction of a new V6 turbo in 2014.
“Our previous relationship with Renault was one of the most successful in Williams’ history, but we will not allow ourselves to dwell too much on the past,” team principal Frank Williams said. “We must look to the future and continue to rebuild our on-track reputation, which I am hopeful that today’s announcement will help us to do.”
Williams, currently ninth of the 12 teams, have endured their worst ever start to a season with just four points from eight races. They last won a race in 2004.
Renault are already supplying three teams — Red Bull, Lotus-backed Renault and Team Lotus — and the firm needed permission from the governing FIA before they could supply a fourth.
While Red Bull have dominated the season, starting all the races so far on pole position and winning six with Sebastian Vettel, Team Lotus have yet to score a point and Williams was clear about the task ahead.
“On the face of it, people will assume that Williams and Renault back together is a great story, watch the winning happen,” he told reporters at the team’s factory, where French tricolor flags fluttered alongside the Union flag.
“I remind myself that Formula One never stands still and what we used to achieve with Renault in the 90s is by no means a guarantee for what we can perhaps achieve in the future,” he said. “We have ahead of us at Williams a steep mountain, it is quite possible to climb it and we will climb it. How long it will take is another matter, but we are determined to deliver our side of the bargain. Personally, I am really thrilled, delighted and slightly nervous.”
Together, Williams and Renault won 63 Grands Prix between 1989 and 1997 with four drivers’ and five constructors’ championships.
Britons Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill, both attending the announcement at the factory, took the title in 1992 and 1996, while Canada’s Jacques Villeneuve — also present — was world champion in 1997. France’s Alain Prost was champion in 1993.
“This will make a huge difference,” said Mansell, standing next to his title-winning car.
“The impetus they will gain from this, knowing there is something in the back that they don’t have to question and they can concentrate more on the aerodynamics ... I think they will make a quantum leap at the end of this year,” he added.
Both sides also trumpeted the business and marketing opportunities of the agreement.
“Renault remains in Formula One to achieve success in a cost-efficient way and the partnership with Williams has great potential,” Renault Sport F1 president Bernard Rey said.
“Williams has recently taken several important steps, both commercially and technically, to update its operations and we feel that this partnership is another important step in its rigorous plan,” he said. “From 2012 onwards, the fact that we will have four partners puts us ahead of other engine manufacturers in terms of market share, but off track it will also enable us to further use Formula One as a marketing platform for our parent company.”
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