Abiteboul: "I think we would have been in a stronger position together"

Following McLaren's decision to split from engine supplier Renault from 2021, Cyril Abiteboul has admitted he thinks the teams would have been stronger together. Renault go solo from the 2021 season.

McLaren have been working with Renault for two seasons now and will be powered by them for the final time in 2021. They'll work with Mercedes whom they were powered by until 2014, winning three World Championships in the process, one with Lewis Hamilton and two with Mika Hakkinen.

Renault will not be powering any vehicles other than their own in 2021 but Abiteboul concedes that the teams may have been stronger together.

"I think we would have been in a stronger position together, based on our proposal of the collaboration. Without that collaboration, we would be less strong, so I think it's a missed opportunity," Abiteboul told Motorsport.com.

"It is not like we are in a completely different place because of this. There is nothing happening between McLaren and us in terms of cooperation, so nothing is changing. There is no improvement and there is no deterioration.

"We just have to admonish ourselves and continue in our own way."