Breaking news
Formula 1
Renault confirms engine talks with McLaren
Renault has confirmed that talks have taken place with McLaren about a potential customer engine supply next year.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Aug 25, 2017, 3:14 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
McLaren is currently weighing up whether to commit to Honda for another year or make the switch to another supplier – with Renault now its only realistic option if it wants to change.
It has been clear for some time that Renault is reluctant to expand to a fourth supply for 2018, with it currently committed to Red Bull, Toro Rosso and its own works team already.
While there remains an outside chance that Toro Rosso could end up switching to Honda if talks do accelerate, it is looking increasingly likely that this will not happen.
Speaking at the Belgian Grand Prix, Renault F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul admitted that there had been discussions but suggested that a deal was not looking likely.
"The situation is we have a multi-year contract with Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso," said Abiteboul.
"So frankly we are open to discussions. I can confirm there have been discussions with McLaren, but right now there is a restriction in the regulation if we wanted to supply more than three teams.
"In addition to that, I don't think it would be reasonable to believe that we could supply more than three without degrading the level of service, the quality of service, for the other teams.
"We have had discussions and frankly, we have [current] contracts in place. We value the relationship with Red Bull. It is a long-standing relationship and we would like to carry this relationship until 2020, but if there is something to be done [elsewhere], why not?
"But right now I understand things are very quiet and they are not necessarily pushing for anything."
Motorsport.com revealed earlier this week that McLaren has been left facing a dilemma over its engine choice, because work from consultants Ilmor had helped Honda to good gains on the dyno – lifting hopes of a good step forward with form in 2018.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Red Bull abandons low drag set-up gamble
Next article Renault still wants more answers on Kubica
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
McLaren
The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026
McLaren held fresh talks after Singapore GP clash as Lando Norris promises to "make better decisions"
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
McLaren held fresh talks after Singapore GP clash as Lando Norris promises to "make better decisions"
Latest news
Why NASCAR's Zane Smith fine for Carson Hocevar contact was consistent
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
12 min
Why NASCAR's Zane Smith fine for Carson Hocevar contact was consistent
Jimmie Johnson on the NASCAR business world: "It's a war"
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 22 min
Jimmie Johnson on the NASCAR business world: "It's a war"
David Alonso lashes out at Dani Holgado: "When you’re not a good person, there’s nothing you can do"
Moto2
MOT2 Moto2
Phillip Island
23 min
David Alonso lashes out at Dani Holgado: "When you’re not a good person, there’s nothing you can do"
Super Formula Leader Kaku Ohta targets North American move across IndyCar and IMSA for 2027
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 24 min
Super Formula Leader Kaku Ohta targets North American move across IndyCar and IMSA for 2027
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe