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Renault and Red Bull start negotiations after Monaco

Published on 16 May 2018 09:51
13
By: Danny Sosef

Renault would cope with the loss of Red Bull as a customer. That is the claim of Cyril Abiteboul, boss of the French carmaker's F1 project. Currently, it is unclear whether Red Bull will stick with Renault power for 2019 or switch to Honda. Renault imposed a May 15 deadline on Red Bull, but then extended it until May 31.

Now, Abiteboul told El Mundo newspaper that talks will only begin after Monaco."Everything will start at the end of May, shortly after Monaco. We are not going to put a deadline, because it's not our style. But we cannot postpone it indefinitely. There is some urgency due to changes in the regulations, so if Red Bull wants our engines, they should let us know. If there is no agreement, we will stay with Renault and McLaren. We do not have to supply three teams," he said.

The Red Bull talks may also complicate Renault's desire to keep Carlos Sainz for 2019, as the Spaniard is only 'on loan' for this year. "We all know about his Red Bull contract. We are also all aware that, if there is a will by all parties, there is a way to end it. We have been talking with Red Bull about all kinds of issues for 12 years and I am convinced that there will be many occasions to talk about this matter soon," he added.

boudy

Posts: 1,168

I think that Redbull will be using Honda next season. No point sticking with Renault. They need factory powerplant.

2
May 17 2018 - 20:33

F1 News Renault McLaren Honda

Replies (13)

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
Next up is after Canada?

But seriously though, "We are not going to put a deadline, because it's not our style." must be the joke of the year. Ooooh Renault!
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- May 17 2018 - 13:45
mcbhargav

Posts: 1,332
Redbull can't move to Honda in 2019. Renault could use a good benchmark, for their largely un-improved piece of work.
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- May 17 2018 - 16:22
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  They already have a decent benchmark in McLaren, I dont think they need another. I think the only really honest thing Abiteboul said here is that Renault dont need Red Bull or the massive flow of cash they get from TAG Heuer on RB's behalf. Honda, however, do need another team on their roster. I dont think Red Bull will make the switch, not unless Honda were to equal Renault this year in a very convincing fashion (possible, mind, not like Renault are leaps and bounds ahead), but they absolutely can.
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  May 17 2018 - 18:03
- TimberVD
  
  Posts: 42
  I don't think RB has a heck of a lot to loose, they'll never become champion with Renault under the current regulations. They haven't been for the best of 4 years since the hybrids came in and Renault has been lagging behind the curve ever since. A lot of promises but 2017 and 18 so far Renault has been only focussing on reliability for the most part, whilst Honda has done that and also focused on performance. 2018 was too early for a partnership but 2019 will be the year of Red Bull becoming main partners with Honda. I'm convinced. He who dares, wins.
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  May 17 2018 - 20:10
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  I hope you are right Timber VD.
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  May 17 2018 - 21:27
- ajpennypacker
  
  Posts: 2,475
  It's hard for me to comprehend why after a now 3 and a half years of hardcore development, and marginal improvements, some expect that Honda will go from being the worst PU to competing with Mercedes and Ferrari. I am not saying they are not capable or committed to do so, but to expect to switch in 2019 and be better off immediately seems disingenuous at best.
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  May 18 2018 - 00:41
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  We do? Since when? Im personally not. It'll take more time than that. But they need only to get equal or better than Renault, and thats not an impossible goal. Will they be able to produce such units in time for a RB switch? We'll see. But I think Honda will benefit from their willingness to do many midseason upgrades, even after the midseason point. I dont think Renault can afford to rest on their laurels anymore and release as few upgrades as they've done these last years.
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  May 18 2018 - 06:27
boudy

Posts: 1,168
I think that Redbull will be using Honda next season. No point sticking with Renault. They need factory powerplant.
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- May 17 2018 - 20:33
- dr002
  
  Posts: 141
  I agree, from Redbull's perspective Honda need only be better than Renault, not on par with Mercedes and Ferrari, and if they have to forsake some more immediate results in order to be a factory team, I believe they should make that commitment and assist Honda in its development as soon as possible.
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  May 18 2018 - 03:04
RenaultFM1

Posts: 100
He been change his mind every week since they came back.
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- May 18 2018 - 04:57
acmonkey

Posts: 5
I think Honda is capable of getting a good PU of course, but why on earth does everybody think that Renault will not get better as well. All of the engine manufacturers are investing a lot in R&D and making engine evolutions.
I think if RedBull switches from Renault to Honda with the only goal to be equal or better than Renault might not be a smart move. Renault will also progress and Dr.Marko and Jos Verstappen have already moaned and cried about the deficit in power of the Renault engine to compete against Merc and Ferrari, so now they move to Honda for what? to be just as fast as they were before? Doesn't make sense. RedBull is just hoping Honda get's it right after 4 years trying....
I personally would like to see Ricciardo in the Ferrari and Verstappen in the Mercedes, and RedBull if it were for me, they could be dead last in the championship. Just to see Dr.Marko crying out loud.
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- May 18 2018 - 09:31
- dr002
  
  Posts: 141
  I think Renault will get better……..
  
  On par with Mercedes and Ferrari engines I don't know, but in the end, where will that leave Red Bull?...... Last year we saw Toro Rosso complain of a lack of supply of new parts from Renault, and I'm sure Cyril would love to stick it up Red Bull as soon as he gets the chance........
  
  But that’s the point isn’t it? As time goes by Renault ‘will’ improve, and Red Bull won't win as a competing customer of Renault. At some point Red Bull need to develop a factory team relationship (or at least a preferential customer relationship) with another engine supplier.
  
  In any case, I think Red Bull has more of a say in the supply decision than Renault would like to admit (both in terms of: the Sainz situation; and having Red Bull as a winning team representing their engine), however I also think that Red Bull needs to bite the bullet sooner rather than later in terms of aligning themselves with an engine supplier in a factory team capacity, and in so doing, commit to helping that manufacturer develop their engine......... though I'm just quietly hoping that manufacturer might be a VW marque......
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  May 18 2018 - 10:32
Major Tom

Posts: 152
An unenviable decision to have to make. The Renault engine is clearly not as powerful or reliable as the Mercedes or the Ferrari and the Honda engine doesn't looks worse than the Renault - no matter what Honda promise.
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- May 18 2018 - 09:35