Deal leaves Kubicas future in doubt
Date published : 16 Dec 2009 - 16:47:40
Robert Kubica's manager Daniele Morelli says he cannot confirm that the Pole will drive for Renault next season until the details of the team's partial sale to Genii Capital have become clearer.The French carmaker announced on Wednesday that it had agreed to sell a large stake in its F1 operation to private investment firm Genii, which will become a strategic partner with joint responsibility for running the Enstone-based squad.Kubica signed with Renault for 2010 in the autumn, before it became evident that Renault was looking for an outside company to inject funds and reduce the financial burden of its F1 commitment.Morelli says the change in ownership means it cannot be assumed that Kubica will stay with the team.We have asked for more information, Morelli told BBC Sport.We would like to know about Genii Capital and who is doing what in the team a partner can be a sleeping partner or a controlling partner. The cards have changed in respect of when we signed and it's important Renault give us full information.We are not against the new position in principle, but it is important to know who will run the team and what kind of strategies they will use. It could be positive or negative.We need some time at least a few days to evaluate the new situation so I am not in a position to say we will leave or stay.Morelli stressed that he did not want to prejudge the Genii deal, but merely needed to understand its full implications.Things may even be improved, Morelli said.I remember when McLaren were a garage' team and with the entry of Mansour Ojjeh they became a top team.If this is the same thing, it's a good solution.I don't have sufficient information to judge the new partner but I must believe that Renault have researched their new partners because they have the responsibility of the Renault brand.I would imagine Renault has very strong guarantees about what the future will be.He added that the key issue was to establish how far advanced the team is with the design of its 2010 car, and whether recent uncertainty over its ownership has set the process back.Our fundamental issue is that we have a car that performs, he said.So the fundamental issue is at which stage is the development of the car The feeling is okay [on that].The concern is maybe that the situation has created a delay because uncertainty can slow down the endeavours of the staff.
