F1: Richards Preparing To Take Over Renault?

Formula 1

F1: Richards Preparing To Take Over Renault?

Prodrive boss David Richards has emerged as a candidate to take over from Flavio Briatore as head of the Renault team...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted September 16, 2009 Balen (BEL)

David Richards ran the Renault team in 1998 when it was still known as Benetton. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Prodrive boss David Richards has emerged as a candidate to take over from Flavio Briatore as head of the Renault team.

Sources say that he was seen at the Enstone, England factory today, presumably for a preliminary meeting about the possibility of getting involved.

Richards ran the team in 1998 when it was still known as Benetton during a brief hiatus between Briatore’s stints in charge.

His usual style is to arrive with a team of people around him and in effect charge the team a fee for his ‘management services.’ That’s what happened when Richards had a term as boss of BAR. When he left Prodrive man Nick Fry stayed on as boss of what ultimately became Honda and subsequently Brawn.

An alternative scenario that could be unfolding is that Renault is looking for a way to back out of its team ownership, and that Richards/Prodrive could be in a position to ‘do a Brawn’ and take over the whole show.

F1 RaceCast Online Now! Follow Formula One live online timing & scoring, practice, qualifying, race coverage, commentary and more on SPEEDtv.com!