Cyril Abiteboul, Renault Formula 1 boss, has intimated Red Bull about May deadline to make a decision.
Red Bull’s current understanding with Renault is for this year, to which the latter had asked whether the former wishes to continue or not, as the sister F1 teamis experimenting with Honda.
If Honda performs well with Toro Rosso this season, Red Bull might switch to it which will leave Renault with a single customer, McLaren, for next season.
Christian Horner, Red Bull boss, admitted that his team is open to anything and said, “All things are open for 2019 onwards. We will play close attention to how things develop at Toro Rosso, but there are no preconceptions as we head into the season.”
Renault is insisting that rules shall be followed by Red Bull and the decisions shall be in compliance of F1 Sporting Regulations.
Abiteboul said, “We are not going to hang around forever. I know what Christian is referring to when he says that he has options.
“He’s absolutely right. Like him I read contracts, and I know the obligation we have towards the sport.
“There is one thing that is clear, and that is planning, and there will be a deadline for Red Bull Racing to define what they want for the future. It’s available, it’s in the sporting regulations.
“I believe that by the end of May there needs to be some clarity as to who is supplying which team – which supplier is supplying which customer team.
“As far as we are concerned, that will be the deadline.”
While Renault boss wanted Red Bull to comply with F1 rules, he is willing to make a room for commitment by the due date to which the details may be filled in later by both parties.
“I guess that will be the baseline for any discussion,” he added.
“Then there are still a number of specific services that they want to have – do they want to have their own petroleum company, do they want to have specific dyno test programme? And so on and so forth.
“The fact that we have that framework in the regs will not prevent any more bespoke services, or commercial discussion, between our two companies.”
Abiteboul said, while answering to a question about financial aspect while working with a single customer, “We have always said that being an engine supplier is a very bad business.”
