Paris E-Prix – Former Formula 1 world champion Alain Prost has sold his shares in the Renault e.dams Formula E team as he will leave at the end of the season.
The Renault ambassador has been taking on a heavier role at the French manufacturer’s F1 team, with Renault handing over backing of the e.dams team to its sister brand Nissan for next season.
“I can confirm that I am the 100% owner of e.dams, so I bought him back and not Nissan,” e.dams co-team principal Jean-Paul Driot said.
“It’s a different situation having a co-ownership than to be on your own, it’s completely different. For us, it’s easier.
“Alain was doing a lot of communication, the team [has been] with me for a long time. In one way, you can be frustrated, because you’re not doing any communication, and he could have been frustrated because he was not leading the team.
“I think that now, things are much clearer. We did a good job all together anyway.
“Now he’s leaving for travelling more with F1. Both programmes were a little bit heavy with the travelling.”
Driot also revealed that although both Sebastien Buemi and Nico Prost are under contract for next season, changes to the driver line-up could still happen.
“There are some on-going discussions with the driver line-up, because we have a new partner so it is important to define their wishes in terms of drivers.
“For sure we want performing ones, but marketing is also very important. So we are discussing at the moment, we have not taken a decision yet.”
Buemi admitted that a conflict of racing with another Japanese manufacturer in the form of Toyota in the World Endurance Championship is not an ideal situation.
“Of course it’s not optimal. My contract is with e.dams, I’ve never had any contract with Renault or with Nissan,” he said.
“From that point of view, I’m contracted to the team whether we have Renault or Nissan behind us but I work for the team. But I can’t hide it’s not optimal.”
