Lotus ready to sell: Renault close to purchase?

As was already written a few months ago, Lotus has been evaluating the option for some time now sell the Formula 1 team. The real turning point could have come following the Monaco Grand Prix, so much so that, according to recent rumors, the Enstone team could be very close to being acquired from Renault, interested in returning to Formula 1 as a 360-degree team. For the French engineer it would be a return in every sense given that, at the beginning of the 2000s, Renault had personally managed the Enstone team under the command of Flavio Briatore.

Renault, after having taken into consideration the purchase of Toro Rosso, would have fallen back on the structure it already was of his property given that the economic cost of the entire operation would be lower than the request made by Mateschitz for the sale of his junior team in Faenza. The project to return to Formula 1 as a team would have been developed by the track manager of the French motorists, Remi Taffin which would also have already included Bob Bell in the operation, who could return as Team Principal. Lotus would be ready to give in to Renault 48% of the team in obvious financial trouble.

For now there is still nothing certain given that the final decision on the sale will only be taken during the week when the President of Renault, Carlos Ghosn, already present in Monaco, will meet directly with the representatives of the Lotus team. In Enstone no one says anything, but it's clear that this deal is starting to become vital to the survival of the Formula 1 team.

Eleonora Ottonello
@lapisinha