Talisman wrote: ↑18 Jun 2018, 07:19
Renault in particular very much disagrees with that. So much so that they went through all the trouble of setting up their own team. As did Daimler Benz. As did all the manufacturers who entered F1 in the boom years of the 90s and 2000s. The maths simply don’t add up for remaining only as an engine supplier.
Renault has had way more success as an engine supplier then as a factory effort and so statistics would disagree with Renault. 9 championships with williams, 3 with benetton (schumacher years) and 8 with Red Bull vs 4 as a factory effort.
Honda has 0 championships as a full factory effort. As an engine supplier it has had 3 championships with williams and 8 with Mclaren.
Mercedes has been more successful as a full factory effort but in the modern era Red Bull has the same amount of championships.
Of all those factory teams in the naughties. What did having their own team get them? BMW was more successful with Williams then as bmw sauber. Toyota had very limited success, Jaguar was a basket case even as Stewart and it wasn't until Red Bull took over that Milton Keynes started winning.
Renault's image problem isn't because they are associated with Red Bull. It is because they have an idiot in charge who has consistently dropped the ball. Renault dropped the ball when at the height of their powers with Williams in 1997 and they decided to leave the sport and screwing Williams over in the process who aside from a stint with BMW has struggled ever since.