Renault could be in line for a significant financial boost should it opt to return to F1 as an entrant.

The French manufacturer, which left F1 at the end of 2010, is considering whether to buy an existing team or quit the sport completely.

First entering the sport in 1977, at which time it introduced the turbocharger to F1, Renault has enjoyed a chequered history. Whilst it has enjoyed title success and is considered one of the true innovators, there has always been a question mark concerning its commitment.

Returning to the sport after a 17 year break - as a team - Renault went on to win the 2005 and 2006 titles, both with Fernando Alonso, only to quit in 2010 in the wake of the withdrawal of Honda and Toyota and the infamous 'Crashgate' saga.

A keen advocate of the new hybrid F1, insisting that it would only remain in the sport as an engine manufacturer if green technology was adopted, Renault has been caught on the back foot, unable to compete with Ferrari, far less Mercedes.

As a result it has received widespread and very public criticism from its only customer, Red Bull - in terms of the fact that the energy drink company also owns Toro Rosso - which has left all concerned pondering their futures in F1.

Renault, for its part, has said that it will either leave the sport entirely or will get even more involved, to the extent of buying an existing team, having sold its Enstone F1 operation to Genii Capital which runs under the Lotus name.

In a clear attempt to woo the French manufacturer, Bernie Ecclestone has said that should Renault return as an entrant it could be given 'historic team' status along with Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes Red Bull and Williams, who between them receive 15 percent of the prize pot reserved for teams that qualify.

"If they take over Lotus and do exactly what Mercedes and Red Bull did, that would be it, so yeah, sure," Ecclestone told Autosport, referring to the criteria by which it would qualify for the bonus.

"They have talked about perhaps taking over Lotus, so there is a way in for them, and we'd love to have them on board," he added.

Asked if Red Bull - another 'historic team' even though it only officially entered the sport in 2005 having bought the Jaguar team from Ford - could veto the move, Ecclestone said: "If they do what they have to do to be in line with those people I don't think we would need anybody to agree. I think we could deal with it easily enough."

Renault is due to make a decision on its future in F1 - or lack of it - later this year, possibly by the end of the summer break.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by markscottuk, 24/07/2015 19:43

"Red Bull Historic? Sauber has more history than them! "

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2. Posted by scf1fan, 23/07/2015 10:37

"So BE does have the authority to "divvy up" a portion of the "prize monies" as he sees fit! I'd say that the smaller (non-historic ?) teams have every right to be very "peeved" then if "on-again/off-again" Renault gets more money just to encourage them to hang around."

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Renault to be given historic status... and resultant cash boost?

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