The arrival of BYD in Formula 1 could be more serious than it seemed at first. And above all, it could happen faster. Because according to the Brazilian outlet UOL, Renault is moving forward with selling the Alpine team to BYD. A deal that would also enjoy the backing of Formula 1 itself.
The Brazilian journalist Julianne Cerasoli, who specializes in Formula 1, also advances that Flavio Briatore could have his days numbered at Alpine. Once the sale of Renault’s team to the Chinese electric car giant is completed, BYD would remove Briatore from the transition between the two outfits.
The Formula 1 wants Alpine to sell the team to BYD, and not to Mercedes
Less than a month ago, at the Beijing Motor Show, BYD confirmed the Chinese brand’s interest in entering Formula 1. But what was hard to imagine is that everything would move so quickly. And according to Brazilian experts at UOL, BYD has progressed significantly in acquiring Alpine’s F1 team.
For months, part of Alpine has been up for sale, but rumors have it that Renault, the owner of the team, would like to get rid of it entirely. The race to secure Alpine promised to be crowded, but now it seems BYD has taken the lead to forge the first Chinese Formula 1 team.
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“Curiously, this BYD discussion coincided with Mercedes’, as if it were a counterattack,” explains Cerasoli, the journalist who broke the story. And she notes that it would be Formula 1 itself pressuring Renault to ensure the buyer of the team is BYD, not Mercedes, the other alternative.
The Formula 1 would want to avoid another scenario like Red Bull, that is, two teams owned by the same corporation that resort to underhanded tactics to gain a competitive advantage. That is the rumor that Mercedes would try to pull off with Alpine if they ultimately gain control of the French outfit.
Moreover, this information suggests Briatore has his days numbered at Alpine once the deal goes through. “Flavio Briatore can forget about having a say. His days are numbered, He should stay until the end of the year, but he should not participate in those decisions, only handle the day-to-day matters of the team.”
The Formula 1 has been enjoying a genuine boom in China in recent years. The entry of BYD would be the final touch that propels it into another dimension.
Images | Formula 1, Xataka
