After the French manufacturer recently announced it is willing to supply a 3rd team with its engines for the 2011 Formula One season, apart from the Enstone and Milton Keynes based organizations, some rumors surfaced in the media suggesting Frank Williams may be interested in such a deal for his team's FW33 car next season.
The Grove based team has switched to Cosworth power for the 2010 season of F1, but their successful past collaboration with the French company recommends them for a future deal in 2011. Initially, it was believed ART Grand Prix – the French GP2 team that is bidding for a 13th entry next season – was in pole position for that engine deal, while Lotus F1 is also believed to seek another engine partner for 2011, not necessarily Renault though.
In addition to the Williams/Renault talks rumors, some other allegations suggest that formerly disgraced Renault race engineer Pat Symonds may be linked with a consultancy role with Williams team for the construction of the FW33 car.
“We still do not know how it will be in 2011. But we do know that we have the ability to assist more than two teams,” said Renault's head of engine operations Remi Taffin, hinting that the French company is more than willing to sit to the discussion table and negotiate future engine deals in the series.
For the time being, Renault is the only engine manufacturer to supply only 2 teams with F1 powerplants: Ferrari has 3 teams, Mercedes also 3, while Cosworth has 4 teams.
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