Renault F1 Team is latest to furlough its employees at Enstone with others on pay cut as Viry base already on part-time schedule.
The Renault-Sport F1 team has become one of many to furlough staff, with their Enstone facility’s community the hardest-hit, as a ‘vast majority’ of those who work there have been temporarily laid off, to utilise the UK Government’s initiative.
F1, Racing Point, McLaren, and Williams have all furloughed staff previously, with the Woking-based the first to do so, as their drivers, too took voluntary pay cuts. While Renault noted about employees and management but there is no mention of the drivers.
The team made it clear that management and the staff on payroll will only be receiving 80% of their regular income. At the same time, Renault stated that they will be extended their shutdown at both Enstone and Viry, as the FIA requested.
There is no mention about staff furlough at their Viry-Chatillon base but Renault noted that they were already on part-time schedule from April 6 onward for 12 weeks period. The F1 work is anyways on a stop, while the rest will be monitored.
Here’s the full statement from Renault:
The crisis we have faced over the past weeks is unprecedented. Clear directives from the FIA and Formula One, plus the mobilisation of all stakeholders engaged in the sport, has made it possible to take several decisions to protect the teams in the short term and to strengthen our sport in the medium term.
In this context, Renault Sport Racing decided to observe the early and extended FIA shutdown for its Viry-Châtillon and Enstone sites, from March 30th to May 3rd inclusive. In addition, it will implement the following measures for its staff:
For Viry-Chatillon, Renault Sport Racing has decided to use a part-time schedule from April 6th for a provisional period of 12 weeks. This period may be reduced or extended dependent on the development of the situation.
This decision was taken in consultation with employee representatives and was supported by a solidarity agreement aimed to protect the company and its employees. For activities not covered by the FIA shutdown – Formula E and Customer Racing – work will resume depending on health conditions and the needs of the company.
For Enstone, Renault Sport Racing has decided to retrospectively apply for the Job Retention Scheme set up by the British government. As of April 1st, the vast majority of Enstone staff will effectively have a total shutdown (furlough) until May 31st. This will be reviewed dependent on the development of the situation.
It was also agreed to top-up the amount allocated by the government to guarantee a minimum of 80% of the actual salary for all team members. Salaries of active staff, including management, will be reduced in the same proportions.
Cyril Abiteboul, Renault Sport Racing Managing Director: “The very difficult human and sanitary circumstances that we are experiencing and the strict lockdown in France and England, as well as in most of the Grand Prix-organising countries, do not yet allow us to measure the impact on our sport.
“We therefore must use all the measures at our disposal to get through this prolonged period of uncertainty and inactivity as best as we can, while protecting the whole team we have built over the past four years.”
Here’s news on furlough and cuts for F1
Here’s news on Williams furlough and here’s on McLaren
Here’s Ross Brawn on 18-19 F1 races
Here’s news on shutdown extension
Here’s Esteban Ocon on Virtual GP and more
The story was edited by Darshan Chokhani
