By alley - Apr 16, 2014, 11:30 AM ET

Renault backs Carlin withdrawal

Renault Sport has backed Carlin's decision to sit out the beginning of the 2014 Formula Renault 3.5 season.

The championship-winning team missed all of pre-season testing and last weekend's opening round at Monza due to a lack of funding, but it is working to return to the grid as soon as possible.

Renault Sport CEO Patrice Ratti said the British outfit has the manufacturer's support, and the series will not put pressure on Carlin to rush into a return.

"I think Carlin made the right decision," he said. "It is better to not do the season than to do it badly.

"I'd rather have them not racing this year than damaging their business.

"Maybe they will be back. It's better to have a good season with 24 cars than a bad one with 26."

Carlin's absence, and the fact that three other teams only ran one car in Italy, led to the smallest grid in FR3.5's history with 21 cars in action.

However, Renault insists that it is working with the teams to fill the grid, and will not be issuing sanctions to those who do not field two cars at every race.

"We are not applying penalties," said Ratti. "We could, but we are not.

"We want to work with the teams. [Punishing them] is silly. The whole market is struggling.

"Of course we have to work on costs because times are tough. [21 cars on the grid] is a sign of the times, but it's still a concern."

Series bosses are anticipating a 23 or 24-car field for the second round at Aragon later this month.