30 replies to this topic

[Scudetto]

Can the departure of Jean Jacques His from Renault in May be contrued as anything but bad news for Renault? As "engine guru," he oversees what is really the final element in a car that, this year, is really beginning to show its strength. Engine power was the one thing lacking in what is obviously a very strong aerodynamic package.

His has been second-guessed since opting for the wide-angle layout of Renault's engine, but it's beginning to look as though the engine, while alegedly down on power, is starting to come of age. Mike Gascoyne has clearly utilized its packaging possibilities quite well in designing the new chassis.

Your prognosis of Renault's future in light of this latest development now invited...

[Teez]

Originally posted by Scudetto

His has been second-guessed since opting for the wide-angle layout of Renault's engine, but it's beginning to look as though the engine, while alegedly down on power, is starting to come of age.

I heard (a long time ago) that Renault would be going to a 90 degree engine for 2004. Any news on this?

[HSJ]

It should be a bad thing for Renault, but who knows. At this point when he is leaving, and it probably has been on the cards for a while, it must hurt their engine program for next year, and probably 05 as well as it takes a while to reorganize.

[tifoso]

I always wondered about how Renault was organized. His was off doing his own thing in France and Briatore ran his part of the organization in England. They seemed to be awfully independent of each other at least according to several articles I read about Renault. It seems like a situation that couldn't sustain itself. There has to be one person who is ultimately responsible. I wonder if His lost out in a power struggle?

[Ghostrider]

Originally posted by tifoso
I always wondered about how Renault was organized. His was off doing his own thing in France and Briatore ran his part of the organization in England. They seemed to be awfully independent of each other at least according to several articles I read about Renault. It seems like a situation that couldn't sustain itself. There has to be one person who is ultimately responsible. I wonder if His lost out in a power struggle?

His seem to have lost out a little, especially since Renault decided to bring Dudot back. Maybe he got fed up with politics in the team or something. I think it will hurt Renault long-term since His has been hailed as some kind of engine genius before. I wonder what he will do now? Maybe some other engine manufacturer will poach him?

[FERRARI WEAPON]

Perhaps taking too long, or going in a new direction, maybe too radical.

[EvilPhil]

Renault were waiting on a decision for the new engine rules before deciding on their new config.

As this has now been agreed (i.e. one engine per weekend from next year) Renault have decided to 'decrease' the V angle in an effort to make an engine that is reliable enough to complete a whole race weekend.

This in no way implys that it will be a 90 degree V though ;)

[metz]

Shure is a loss to the team.
Jaguar should make him an offer he can't refuse.
But the Renault success is due to much more than the engine.
If you check the straight speeds they are only as good as the Macs and Williams'.
They seem to get the speed in the corners.
Can it be the new suspension?

[estoril85]

northampton bound anyone?

[FordFan]

I'd wouldn't at all be surprised if part of his financial he gets to leave the team (I'm sure he got one), was contingent on him not going to certain other engine manufacturers for a period of time. That said, it would be great to see him at Cosworth. Though, I'm not sure if Nick Hayes would approve.

[Williams]

My impression of Renault's engine program is that they are committed to the wide-V layout (although apparently the V is not quite as wide as the 110 that some have quoted), and that they are now working on getting more horses out of the package. I can't see them abandoning this line of development, especially since the chassis seems to be working so well, even if they are having a change in engineering staff.

[HSJ]

Originally posted by Ghostrider


His seem to have lost out a little, especially since Renault decided to bring Dudot back. Maybe he got fed up with politics in the team or something. I think it will hurt Renault long-term since His has been hailed as some kind of engine genius before. I wonder what he will do now? Maybe some other engine manufacturer will poach him?

I was thinking about that. The way Merc has been recruiting I wouldn't be surprised if they made him an offer. Though it would be less clear what he could do for Merc exactly, or Merc for him, would they actually fit together. But if they would/could fit, I'm pretty sure Merc will make an offer. And almost anybody would take that offer considering the spending and resources Merc is throwing at F1 right now (or are starting to do right now). Any designer's dream to have the most resources and budget at your disposal.

[Scudetto]

Originally posted by HSJ


I was thinking about that. The way Merc has been recruiting I wouldn't be surprised if they made him an offer. Though it would be less clear what he could do for Merc exactly, or Merc for him, would they actually fit together. But if they would/could fit, I'm pretty sure Merc will make an offer. And almost anybody would take that offer considering the spending and resources Merc is throwing at F1 right now (or are starting to do right now). Any designer's dream to have the most resources and budget at your disposal.

Who's that dude Merc poached from BMW? His might be a valuable addition to the BMW Motorsport division to fill that vacancy.

[mudpuppy]

I understand that Flav has talked informally w Mario Illien. It would make sense for His to go to Merc and Illien to go to Renault, now that Ilmor is pretty much Merc owned now. Since both men are engine designers, it doesn't make sense for both to be in the same (small) engine company. The only hangup in this theory is that I thought Illien was under contract to design and build engines for the Indy car series (sorry the name of that series escapes me....you know, the one with the girl driver and smallish cheap cars).

Interesting thought you gotta agree. Flav you da man.

[Renault4ever]

This development worries me somewhat. I hope they're not killing off the goose that layed the golden egg just as seems to be hatching. I think the wide angle package is turning out to be a very astute, far sighted decision, even if it's caused some short term pain. Just like when Renault introduced turbos to Formula1.

[Scudetto]

Originally posted by Renault4ever
Just like when Renault introduced turbos to Formula1.

Better use Renault's V-10 as your example...the turbo motor didn't win Renault any championships.

[Pascal]

Originally posted by Scudetto

His has been second-guessed since opting for the wide-angle layout of Renault's engine...

His took charge of the engine program after the wide-angle layout had been chosen. He embraced the task with all his energy, but the current engine cannot be described as his "child". Let's say that he acted as a great foster-dad.

[Pilla]

Originally posted by Pascal

His took charge of the engine program after the wide-angle layout had been chosen. He embraced the task with all his energy, but the current engine cannot be described as his "child". Let's say that he acted as a great foster-dad.

I thaught they he instigated it and was very hands on but was recently relegated to a managerial position? Maybe he was not too pleased about this.

[Pascal]

Originally posted by Pilla

I thaught they he instigated it and was very hands on but was recently relegated to a managerial position? Maybe he was not too pleased about this.

No, it's a bit more complex than this.

After Dudot's departure, His was more or less heading the now idle engine department of Renault Sport, though real decisions were left to Patrick Faure. And after Renault's departure from F1 in the mid-90's, a group of engineers was given the task to investigate new ideas for an engine in case Renault was to make a comeback. This group, led by a chap whose name escapes me right now, had a great level of freedom within the Renault Sport structure, and His didn't have any say in their work. Shortly before Renault's return, the group presented to the Renault board some projects in order to perpetuate the company's image as an innovator. Faure and a few others decided that the wide-angle/low CG engine was an interesting avenue of development, and the project was given the board's green light. It is at this stage, when the F1 return became Renault Sport's priority, that His got formally involved and took charge of the project.

His is very hands-on indeed, but mostly on the technical level. A few months ago, he was indeed given managerial position on top of his responsibilities as project leader. This was a failure, as he quickly got overwhelmed and lost track of the "big picture". Some people at Renault once said that His is possibly the best engine designer around, but he needs to be constantly reminded that there are time constraints to deal with, like races every other weekend... In his rage to make the wide-angle technology work, he forgot the goal that the whole team was trying to achieve with it. This explains why His ultimately got demoted from his managerial responsibilities a few weeks ago, leaving Flavio head both Enstone and Viry-Châtillon, under Faure's lead. While possibly leaving him happy to get rid of the managerial stuff he was not cut out to deal with in the first place, the move nevertheless appeared like a slap in the face for His, and his departure is a logical outcome.

[EvilPhil]

Originally posted by EvilPhil
Renault were waiting on a decision for the new engine rules before deciding on their new config.

As this has now been agreed (i.e. one engine per weekend from next year) Renault have decided to 'decrease' the V angle in an effort to make an engine that is reliable enough to complete a whole race weekend.

This in no way implys that it will be a 90 degree V though ;)

[Scudetto]

Welcome to Ferrari, Jean!

[speedmaster]

Ferrari is getting like Microsoft... they are a threat? Buy them.... The strange thing is that HIS is said to take care of a sports car division... I do not believe someone responsible for F1 hight tech engines would leave for something like a street motor version....or the weight of $$$$ was really high.

LP

[marion5drsn]

Pascal; You have made my day complete as I could not believe that a man clever as J.J. His could have made a serious mistake as the 111 degree engine. My guesses are vindicated. Thank You!

[Scudetto]

Originally posted by speedmaster
Ferrari is getting like Microsoft... they are a threat? Buy them.... The strange thing is that HIS is said to take care of a sports care division... I do not believe someone responsible for F1 hight tech engines would leave for something like a street motor version....or the weight of $$$$ was really high.

LP

Ah, nothing like seeing facts the way you want to, is there?

JJ was out in the open job queue. Ferrari didn't go out and poach His from anybody. Want to talk about the "Microsoft syndrome," then look to McLaren: Rather than let Gordon Murray go out to another team, McLaren put him in charge of another project which was a life-long dream of Gordon's -- building a roadcar. McLaren looks poised to do the same with Newey: put him in charge of a project which is a life-long dream of Newey's -- designing America's Cup yachts. So when McLaren face the loss of a top guy, their solution is to find some way to appease him with another internal position rather than seek glory elsewhere.

So if you wish to discuss the hoarding of talent, don't look in Ferrari's direction.

[Menace]

Originally posted by Scudetto


So if you wish to discuss the hoarding of talent, don't look in Ferrari's direction.

I dont think that statement really holds water.

I think you should revise it as: "So if you wish to discuss the hoarding of talent, look no further then the sport of F1."

Good pick by Ferrari.

[Scudetto]

Originally posted by Menace


I dont think that statement really holds water.

I think you should revise it as: "So if you wish to discuss the hoarding of talent, look no further then the sport of F1."

Good pick by Ferrari.

Granted, but in the case of JJ His, he's off to Ferrari's road car division, not the Scuderia. So you can't blame F1 for hoarding talent with respect to JJ His.

[speedmaster]

Originally posted by Scudetto


Ah, nothing like seeing facts the way you want to, is there?

JJ was out in the open job queue. Ferrari didn't go out and poach His from anybody. Want to talk about the "Microsoft syndrome," then look to McLaren: Rather than let Gordon Murray go out to another team, McLaren put him in charge of another project which was a life-long dream of Gordon's -- building a roadcar. McLaren looks poised to do the same with Newey: put him in charge of a project which is a life-long dream of Newey's -- designing America's Cup yachts.

So if you wish to discuss the hoarding of talent, don't look in Ferrari's direction.

Sorry, didn't have all the info then....

In fact market rules and if they did it and not breaking the law then they are right. I was most interested in understanding what HIS will do there.

Peace ;)

[Scudetto]

Originally posted by speedmaster
Sorry, didn't have all the info then....

In fact market rules and if they did it and not breaking the law then they are right. I was most interested in understanding what HIS will do there.

Peace ;)

OK, I'll let you off this time.

Still, it DOESN'T mean His won't end up with the Scuderia in the future. Remember that Paolo Martinelli also emerged from the road car department.

[KinetiK]

Originally posted by Scudetto


Ah, nothing like seeing facts the way you want to, is there?

JJ was out in the open job queue. Ferrari didn't go out and poach His from anybody. Want to talk about the "Microsoft syndrome," then look to McLaren: Rather than let Gordon Murray go out to another team, McLaren put him in charge of another project which was a life-long dream of Gordon's -- building a roadcar. McLaren looks poised to do the same with Newey: put him in charge of a project which is a life-long dream of Newey's -- designing America's Cup yachts. So when McLaren face the loss of a top guy, their solution is to find some way to appease him with another internal position rather than seek glory elsewhere.

So if you wish to discuss the hoarding of talent, don't look in Ferrari's direction.

to Ron, smartest thing competition-wise and wow... best. employer. ever.

seriously.

[Pascal]

Let's not forget that Ferrari has been rumoured to be preparing a new Le Mans challenge for the coming years, possibly through its Maserati division. If the rumour turns out to be true, I can hardly imagine His not being part of this programme...

[DonPelayo]

evilphil knew it all along.
renault will build a 72 degree engine for the R24.