Renault mulls Formula One exit

SEPANG — French automaker Renault, which supplies engines to the Red Bull and Torro Rosso teams, said it is considering pulling out of Formula One because of the damage done to its reputation after a very difficult start to the new season.

Cyril Abiteboul, managing director of Renault Sport F1, said yesterday: “I can confirm we are looking at a lot of options, including getting out of Formula One, if it’s bad for Renault’s reputation.”

Abiteboul also said Renault was speaking to interested parties amid reports it is considering buying an existing F1 team and becoming a race constructor again.

Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost revealed that the Italy-based team would be receptive to an offer, saying this would be a fantastic opportunity for Toro Rosso to make the next step forward.

Meanwhile, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton overcame major engine trouble in the morning to set the fastest time in yesterday’s afternoon practice for the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Demonstrating how far clear of the field Mercedes is, Hamilton missed about two-thirds of the day’s running, yet set the top time of 1 minute, 39.790 seconds at the Sepang International Circuit.

He was a third of a second faster than Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen, who surprisingly edged the second Mercedes of Nico Rosberg.

With track temperatures soaring past 60°C — hotter than any track temperature experienced last year — many drivers struggled with tyre degradation, which looms as a key factor in Sunday’s race.

Fernando Alonso made his first appearance in his second stint at McLaren, having skipped the opening race because of lingering effects from a pre-season crash. The good news was that he edged team-mate Jenson Button, but the bad news was that they were down in 16th and 17th as the team struggles with new engine partner Honda.

“We are a long way away from where we need to be and it’s not a positive change,” a frustrated Button was heard to say on team radio. AP