Source: Renault F1 Media

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Honda unrealibility will hurt Red Bull - Renault

Honda unrealibility will hurt Red Bull - Renault

25-01-2019 19:05
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Jake Williams-Smith

Renault team boss Cyril Abiteboul has taken a jab at former partner Red Bull ahead of the 2019 season. Red Bull will run Honda power units in 2019, something that Abiteboul believes will hurt rather than help the team.

Red Bull and Renault's very public falling out after four years of domination from 2010 to 2013 is a long distant memory now with Abiteboul sounding off on their former A-team.

With their new partnership, the Frenchman explained why he was expecting Red Bull's level of performance to drop rather than rise with the Japanese manufacturer on board.

“That will of course regulate itself if they suddenly concede five engine penalties next season,” he is quoted by thejudge13.com.

“At Toro Rosso, nobody looks up when something like that happens, but with Red Bull, I expect a bit more whirlwind, and that will of course slow them down.”

“But if they want to stick to the rules, they have two or three opportunities to improve the power unit during the season. Just like us.

“We also have the Constructors’ Championship, and we know those grid penalties have a huge impact on our ability to score points, and we did not want to risk that. Honda is a threat in some ways, but so is everyone else. I expect the threat to abate over time, and believe in the progress we have made this winter.”