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Abiteboul: Relationship with Red Bull did have upsides

Abiteboul: Relationship with Red Bull did have upsides

07-01-2019 12:50
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Jake Williams-Smith

Cyril Abiteboul may have one less team to deal with in 2019 but has conceded that despite a difficult relationship with Red Bull, the pairing did have its benefits. Renault will no longer supply Red Bull with power units after a fractious relationship finally ended in 2018. 

Despite many public words of war between both parties, the Renault F1 boss admitted that despite the very open falling out between manufacturer and race team, the Renault-Red Bull partnership did have some upside.

“There were some upsides with that relationship with Red Bull,” said Abiteboul.

“And frankly if the story was to be written again, I would not change a word.  I think it was great to have Red Bull in the last three years, which were really the years of start-up of our own works team, because that team was capable of showing what the engine was capable of doing, for both the good and the bad."

Although Red Bull has switched to Honda power for 2019, Renault will still supply McLaren next season who do not have as high expectations as Red Bull currently.  The Woking-based team will be hoping for a big boost in power all the same after their disappointing 2018 effort.

“That is really clearly something that has avoided us a McLaren situation, where McLaren has unfortunately been under an illusion, and when the illusion stopped it hurts. We are under no illusion. We are not dreaming.

“We know exactly where we are with chassis and engine. But I think we are now mature enough in our understanding of our strengths and weaknesses to be able to lose Red Bull and focus, control our communication, control our image, control our spend, control our investment, and our development strategy.

“We are in control and being in control was one of the reasons we wanted to return as a works team.”