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Abiteboul questions Red Bull about Honda engine

Abiteboul questions Red Bull about Honda engine

04-12-2018 19:30
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Bobby Vincent

Cyril Abiteboul has questioned Red Bull over their decision to opt with Honda instead of Renault for next season as their engine supplier.

The Renault F1 boss has pointed out that his team "are still ahead of Toro Rosso" in the constructors'.

"It is difficult to formulate goals for next year, but if you are on an upward trend, then of course you want that trend to continue," Abiteboul told German publication Auto, Motor und Sport.

"That may not work when it comes to our position in the championship, but we hope to be able to close the gap to the top of the field."

Abiteboul said that the F1 world will have to "wait and see" what the end result between Red Bull and Honda's partnership is. 

"Let's wait and see what will happen to Red Bull and Honda," Abiteboul continued. "Red Bull leaves no chance untouched to tell us how good Honda is. But I notice that Toro Rosso is still behind us?"

Abiteboul is hopeful that Renault will find a way to get closer to the top three teams (Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull), with the French team finishing fourth to claim "the best of the rest" fictional award.

"At the moment, we are 1.5 per cent behind in lap time," the Renault boss explained. "We want to reduce that by 50 per cent."