Force India "an example to follow" - Renault

Force India finished fourth in F1's constructors' championship for the second consecutive season in 2017, two places ahead of the Renault works outfit.

Abiteboul suggested before the 2017 season that F1's new aerodynamic regulations would create an "arms race" and make "resources very difficult for the small teams".

"I believe that most of the car-build budget of a Force India will be gone by now, just to cope with the new regulations," Abiteboul said during Renault's pre-season car launch in February last year, suggesting smaller teams would struggle to compete.

"That is also something we are taking into account with the level of resources that we have - we should be easily capable of beating teams like Haas and Force India and so on."

Force India team principal Vijay Mallya advised sceptics to "eat their words" after his team's continued strong performance in the championship, and when asked by Motorsport.com whether he'd be doing just that, Abiteboul said his words were "wrongly represented" and suggested Force India's stability and efficiency was an example for Renault to follow.

"Frankly I think my words were wrongly represented because I've always had huge respect for Force India and continue to have huge respect for Force India," Abiteboul told Motorsport.com.

"That respect is only greater after 2017. They have shown that with very limited resources they've been capable of generating huge performance.

"This is on the back of a great driver line-up, and also on the back of what is still the best power unit in the field.

"There is absolutely no magic. They are also showing that this stability they have demonstrated over the years is what is giving them the capacity to be extremely efficient from a cost perspective.

"For me, it's an example to follow, and has always been an example to follow, but I want us to be in a position to fight with them next year. That will be an achievement, if we are capable of overtaking them in the championship."