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Lauda's aborted move to Renault, 1977


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#1 Jon Saltinstall

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Posted 23 September 2014 - 19:27

It was widely reported during the 1977 season, as Lauda's dissatisfaction with Ferrari became increasingly evident, that he was being wooed by Renault in a big money deal for 1978. Is it known if he ever got as far as trying out the RS01, and if so, where and when? I understand it was the complexity of the BT46 (in its original surface-cooling form) that attracted him to Brabham, so the draw of developing tRenault's new turbo V6 must have been strong...

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#2 ensign14

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Posted 23 September 2014 - 20:01

Well, he was going to join Renault in 1986, but the unions nixed it, and in so doing killed off Renault's F1 team...



#3 garoidb

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Posted 23 September 2014 - 20:55

Well, he was going to join Renault in 1986, but the unions nixed it, and in so doing killed off Renault's F1 team...

 

I thought it was for 1985, and that Bernie was after him for Brabham for 1986. Lucky escape on both counts. 



#4 Nemo1965

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Posted 24 September 2014 - 17:29

I thought it was for 1985, and that Bernie was after him for Brabham for 1986. Lucky escape on both counts. 

 

Or, intriguing thought: perhaps it would have reversed Brabham's demise...

 

By the way, Lauda seriously contemplated joining three teams in the middle of 1977, when he had decided to leave Ferrari: Brabham, Lotus and Wolf racing. But I could look it up in his autobiography. Lazy. Don't want to walk the six steeps to my books... zzzzz