F1: Red Bull denies it will drop Renault

Related Stories

Red Bull Racing has dismissed rumors it is considering splitting from Formula 1 engine partner Renault, but acknowledged that there are performance clauses the French manufacturer must meet.

A challenging start to 2014 has prompted talk in recent weeks that Red Bull could be ready to look at alternatives unless progress was made. But speaking ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, Red Bull boss Christian Horner said there was no doubt it would remain with Renault for next season at least.

"It is 100 percent next year we will be powered by a Renault engine," he said. "We have a multi-year deal with Renault, but as with any agreement there are always performance criteria associated with that. But we are not considering any alternatives at this point in time."

Horner said talks with Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn at the Monaco GP had left him encouraged that the French car manufacturer knows the size of the task it faces to overhaul Mercedes.

"I think Renault fully understand the predicament that they are in," he explained. "Carlos Ghosn was in Monte Carlo to look and see for himself, and there are no ultimatums to Renault other than we want to improve as quickly as we can.

"We have enjoyed a great deal of success with them over the years. All our race victories have come with Renault engines and we trust in them to sort their issues out."

Although Renault is hampered in the development it can do on its hardware this year due to homologation rules, Horner says there is still plenty of scope for improvements.

"You can refine the integration of that hardware and I think one of the big things we are seeing this year is that fuel development is a critical element," he said. "That for us started perhaps later than some of our rivals, because Renault was later in its development program and obviously running on the dyno. So we have to catch up in that area as well and [fuel supplier] Total is doing a great job in finding performance."