Renault eyes Williams as fourth F1 engine customer

Renault is looking for a fourth customer team in formula one and Williams has emerged as the frontrunner.

Rumours in Turkey last weekend said the troubled British independent Williams is considering switching from Cosworth.

Renault Sport F1, now only an engine supplier in formula one, currently supplies the two Lotus teams as well as Red Bull.

Managing director Jean-Francois Caubet told Germany’s motorsport-total.com that talks with Williams have begun, "But not only them", the Frenchman insisted.

"Our goal is to have four teams," he added, clarifying that the FIA would have to agree to Renault expanding beyond three engine supply contracts.

Another stumbling block could be adapting the Renault engine to accommodate Williams’ own KERS system.

And team shareholder Toto Wolff suggested the Oxfordshire based team has bigger problems to solve at present.

"The fact that the (Cosworth) engine might not be as strong as the Mercedes, we have known for some time, but this is the last issue that is under discussion," said the Austrian, referring to Williams’ worst start to a new season in its long history.