No doubts for Red Bull over Renault F1 engine parity

Red Bull Formula 1 chief Christian Horner says he has never doubted the team has enjoyed parity with the works Renault team for its power units, but believes the recent FIA technical directive is a positive step.

The FIA issued a technical directive to all 10 F1 teams in February stressing there must be parity between engines used by manufacturer teams and those it supplies to customer outfits on the grid.

Despite being a stringent critic of Renault in recent years over performance and reliability issues, Horner said that he has never been given reason to doubt the French marque's engine supply has been equal to the one it uses in-house.

Asked if it was good that the FIA was pushing for parity, Horner said: "I think so. We’ve never doubted that we’ve had parity with Renault.

"We’ve had a different fuel and oil supplier, but we haven’t seen anything concerning about the product that we’ve been supplied by Renault."

Renault F1 boss Cyril Abiteboul agreed with Horner, saying that it would allay any fears customers had about a lack of performance.

"I know it's a constant concern from customer teams, and for very good reason, to make sure they are treated equally because that certainly should be the case," Abiteboul said.

"It certainly has been the way that we have been acting towards our customers in our 40 years of history of being an engine supplier in Formula 1. That was always our intent, that has always been in the regulations. Now there is a clear directive in relation to that.

"But we also have to accept that there will always be some small differences. Red Bull Racing is using a different petroleum partner. They will be using a different type of fuel and lube. That's creating some small discrepancies, but they know that and they've done their decision."

'GO AND SPEAK TO CLAIRE WILLIAMS'

While Horner stressed Red Bull never had any concerns about engine parity with Renault, he remained coy when asked if he believed other power unit suppliers were offering the same kind of guarantee.

"I don’t know. We’ve worked with the same supplier for 10 years," Horner said.

"I’d go and speak to Claire Williams."

Williams Martini Racing deputy chief Claire Williams was asked about the engine parity ruling not long after Horner's comments, and expressed her support for it, with the team working with reigning champion team Mercedes since 2014.

"It is a regulation that says that we have everything that the works team has," Williams said.

"We are happy with that."