Renault F1 boss Cyril Abiteboul says the French manufacturer would only be willing to seal an engine supply deal in F1 in the future with a true “partner”, rather than with a mere customer.
The Renault works outfit – which will be rebranded Alpine F1 from next season – will be the only team on the grid next year powered by its own engines as its current single customer McLaren will switch to Mercedes.
Abiteboul is open to a collaboration with another team down the road but only on the basis of a genuine partnership that enhances the sporting and technical “perspectives” of both parties.
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“It has to be more of a partner team than a customer team,” said the Renault boss.
“A customer brings you nothing. A partner maybe can bring you some value, the value being in particular that it can help you in reaching a sporting objective or business objective.
“We know that the transaction is [financially] regulated anyway, so it’s mainly from a sporting and technical perspective that we would look at the opportunity.”
Honda’s long-term presence in Formula 1 is still up in the air, with the Japanese manufacturer’s contracts with Red Bull and AlphaTauri running out at the end of 2021.
Honda’s departure could pave the way for a renewed association between Renault and Red Bull. But Abiteboul is hardly enthusiastic at the mention of such a thought.
“I think the first thing is for Honda to decide for their own commitment, for their own strategy in the sport. We’ve been there with Red Bull. It didn’t work,” he said.
“I was asked why Red Bull is having the difficulties it is having, and in my opinion is that one of the reasons is that they have already sort of rejected this possibility of much more integration.
“We have progressed between Viry and Enstone. We have a long term commitment in the sport, and now that we secured the future we can think what we want to do from a customer or partnership perspective.
“If there is a strong partnership opportunity, we will do it. I have doubt that it could be with Red Bull.”
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