Renault managing director Cyril Abiteboul admits the team is having to consider their driver options for 2019 should Carlos Sainz be called to Red Bull.

Currently, the Spaniard is on loan with the French manufacturer, having switched from Toro Rosso as part of the deal which saw McLaren/Honda divorce last year with the Italian team taking on the Japanese engines.

However, with Daniel Ricciardo's future at Red Bull uncertain as he assesses his options for next year, Sainz is still the man many expect to replace the Australian if he does indeed leave.

"We need to make plans, we need to be prepared for the worst as always," Abiteboul told Reuters.

"The worst for us would be that we would want to stay with Carlos and that's not possible. And it can happen, let's be honest."

Regardless, the Renault chief revealed that work has already begun on the initial stages of the 2019 car and Sainz is being included in the process.

"We had a meeting this week with him to talk about the plan for next year, the objectives and also the early concept of the 2019 car," he said.

"It's a clear sign we are not thinking that, in the back of our mind, he may not be with us.

"It may happen, but we don't want to compromise short-term or middle-term performance by starting to mitigate the way we are working with him."

Also Read:

• Renault "reasonably pleased" in "nip and tuck" midfield
• Mercedes boss Wolff admits Sainz a desired future replacement for Hamilton
• Sainz trying not to be distracted by loan status at Renault

Currently, though his performances compared to Nico Hulkenberg are a little short of what some expected with the 22-year-old yet to out-qualify his teammate.

"It would be completely inappropriate to start making judgements, way too early," Abiteboul claimed when asked about that fact. 

"But it does say something about the quality of his teammate and that's great, that's only positive."

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has said no team orders will be introduced even though his drivers "screwed up" in Baku.

The Milton Keynes outfit was swift to go into damage limitation mode after Daniel Ricciardo rear-ended Max Verstappen under braking for Turn 1 taking both men out of the race on Sunday.

Neither driver blamed the other and the FIA even reprimanded both drivers after declaring they had contributed in some way to the incident.

The Australian and the Dutchman have been summoned to the factory to apologise to the entire team before the next race in Spain with Horner revealing warnings had been issued in the pre-race briefing.

“Unfortunately this was the culmination of two guys taking things into their own hands which shouldn’t have happened," the angry Red Bull boss declared.

“There were three incidents between the two of them during the course of the Grand Prix. They were told to calm it down a bit. What we’ve always said is give each other room on track and we’ll let you race.

“They’d just about done that throughout the Grand Prix until that unfortunate incident," he continued. “Things get discussed behind closed doors, but the drivers at the end of the day drive for a team and they both recognise that they have screwed up."

Given the contrition both Ricciardo and Verstappen have shown since the incident, Horner believes that the stern talking to and apologies are as far as any repercussions have to go.

“We will discuss it prior to Barcelona but we want to continue to allow the drivers to race,” he said.

Having his say though, Mercedes non-executive chairman and triple world champion Niki Lauda claims both would have been hit financially had he been in charge.

“I would bring them in the office together with Toto [Wolff] and tell them how much less they will get paid because of the damage they have done," he said. “Really. We thought about this once but we didn’t have to do it."

As for who was to blame, the Austrian added: “For me, it is 70 percent Verstappen and 30 percent Ricciardo.

“He was moving on him all the time, where can the poor guy go?”

Red Bull has officially begun talks with Honda over a potential engine deal from the beginning of next season, Formula1.com has reported.

The Japanese manufacturer has shown signs of making good gains with their power unit this year, after joining forces with Toro Rosso as part of the decision to split from McLaren following three troubled years.

Pierre Gasly achieved their best result since returning in 2015 with fourth in Bahrain purely on merit and that only triggered further speculation that the senior team may decide to end their long-term relationship with Renault.

Now, the first step has been taken towards that possibility with Honda's motorsport director Masashi Yamamoto and Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko meeting in Azerbaijan this past weekend.

"We formally sat down for the first time, and started talking about specific requirements for the deal to move forward," Yamamoto revealed.

"Red Bull is a competitive team, and Honda would be open to supply them if there is an opportunity.

"We have moved on from casual discussions to formal negotiations, and we confirmed our points of view and are now at the start of the process."

Under the regulations, it suggests teams have until May 15 before telling the FIA which engine supplier the intend to use the following year but a decision isn't likely before the summer break as Red Bull have previously stated and McLaren's situation last year proved.

Toro Rosso driver Pierre Gasly branded Kevin Magnussen the "most dangerous driver I've ever raced with" after the pair touched wheels at almost 190mph during the Azerbaijan GP.

In a video released on the official Formula 1 website on Monday, it showed the Frenchman trying to pass the Haas driver after the first Safety Car restart on the main straight only for Magnussen to push Gasly towards the wall when partially alongside.

The two would touch with the former GP2 champion just avoiding a major incident and would continue to attack with the Dane almost squeezing him into the wall on a further two occasions.

Magnussen would be given a 10-second time penalty for the scary incident but that didn't appease Gasly who was clearly furious after the race.

"Kevin is the most dangerous guy I have ever raced with," he declared. "He literally put me in the wall at 300 km/h at the restart and completely ruined the race."

Damage to the floor and the steering on his Toro Rosso meant Gasly said he was simply trying to "survive" to the finish and that what Magnussen went well beyond his already aggressive limit.

"I don’t mind racing drivers which are hard, but like this is just way over the limit. You don’t put someone in the wall at 300 km/h," he said.

The 21-year-old also ruled out having a chat with the former McLaren driver believing it would have little effect.

Kimi Raikkonen has revealed he was fortunate not to sustain a puncture or worse after a high-speed brush with the wall during the Azerbaijan GP on Sunday.

The Finn was forced into a recovery back through the field after colliding with Esteban Ocon at Turn 3 on the opening lap, an incident which resulted in the first Safety Car during the crazy race.

And, by after completing 43 laps on the Soft compound tyre, Raikkonen would benefit from the late switch to Ultrasofts, a spate of retirements and the mistake of this teammate Sebastian Vettel to finish second behind race winner Lewis Hamilton.

“I had a good feeling sometimes but was struggling to switch the tyres on, it was kind of on and off," he explained

“I had a great many close moments. Even on the way to the grid, I was pretty certain that it’s in the wall already but I managed to get it away from it. Too many close calls."

It was then he revealed the moment that wasn't picked up on camera that could well have ended his race early.

“I think on the first lap, after the restart, on the little kink, coming on the last part of the straight, I hit the inside wall at full speed so I’m pretty lucky that the front wheel didn’t go,” he said.

Also Read:

• Red Bull drivers "screwed up" but team orders won't be used, says Horner
• Gasly slams "most dangerous driver" Magnussen as video reveals terrifying collision

Once that brief scare had passed, the 2007 world champion admits having seen how Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo were fighting from behind, he wasn't surprised by their eventual collision.

"Looking at what they were doing earlier in the race it was pretty certain something will happen later on when they get close to each other," Raikkonen claimed.

“Everything changed after that and once put the other tyres on and again it felt OK and it all played into our hands.”

Charles Leclerc claimed the opportunity to race against Fernando Alonso was the highlight en route to scoring his first Formula 1 points in Azerbaijan.

The Monegasque ran in the points for the majority of Sunday's race around the streets of Baku, lapping at the same pace as the Red Bull drivers in the first stint albeit thanks to a tyre advantage.

A few late retirements late on also helped the F2 champion but his sixth-place finish was fully deserved as he achieved a result the Swiss team hasn't managed since Felipe Nasr in Sochi in 2015.

“It’s an amazing weekend for the whole team and a good boost for the future,” Leclerc commented.

“It’s good to have a good one where we put everything together. Obviously, we have been helped by the circumstances but we took our opportunity here."

It was the first time in F1 that the man many tip to one day drive a Ferrari, where he is currently the top man in their academy, has shown his potential, but keeping to that moniker, he knows he needs to keep improving.

“We need to take that and work to get better in the race. We should enjoy the moment and tomorrow back to work for Barcelona," he said.

“Our race pace is stronger than our qualifying pace at the moment. In FP2 we really saw that. Now we need to investigate that and make our low fuel pace better.

“If we manage to do that we should be very competitive because our race pace at the beginning of the race was really great, then at the end with low fuel we struggled a bit more.

"But P6 at the end is great.”

Also Read:

• Alonso claims Baku recovery to P7 "one of the best races of my life"

Given that the 20-year-old has grown up with Ferrari, it's no surprise that the part of the race he most enjoyed was the chance to go wheel-to-wheel with his childhood hero.

“Fernando was a driver I was watching when I was five years old in Monaco so to race with him today is quite crazy," Leclerc admitted.

“To have been able to fight with him, okay we had the tyre advantage, but even at the end of the race we were looking strong compared to McLaren. The whole race we were looking strong compared to them.”

The Formula 1 Commission has passed a series of changes to the aerodynamics of the cars for 2019 with the aim of promoting more overtaking.

In a vote conducted by email on Monday, Mercedes and their customers along with Sauber provided the four necessary supporters of the proposals to get the green light while the remaining six teams all voted against.

The changes include a simpler front wing with less outwash from the endplates, something that teams have developed since the current wider wings were introduced in 2009, and a larger span than current designs.

Then the rear wing will be altered, becoming wider and deeper with a larger DRS flap for greater effect on circuits with shorter zones such as in Australia, Hungary and Suzuka.

Brake ducts will also be simplified with no winglets permitted. Attempts to change the ever-more complex bargeboards were not agreed on, however.

The changes have come from the research being undertaken by managing director of motorsport Ross Brawn in coordination with some teams as part of the broader 2021 plan.

And their introduction was brought forward after just five passes were made outside of the opening lap in Australia, though the following three races have seen more action.

Also Read:

• Verstappen slams inability to race at "worthless" Australian GP
• Brawn: DRS still a "necessary band-aid" in F1

Few expected the changes to get the go-ahead with the opposition of many teams so the outcome was something of a surprise.

Monday was also the final opportunity to agree on changes for next season without needing unanimous backing.

"The decision of the Strategy Group and the F1 Commission taken yesterday, sanctioned by the FIA World Motor Sport Council, to approve a number of aerodynamic modifications aimed at promoting closer racing and more overtaking for the 2019 season was definitely an important step," Brawn commented.

"It’s also important to note that the decision has been taken after an intense period of research into the FIA’s proposals, which were made with the support of Formula 1 and, conducted by a majority of the teams. 

"A good spirit, a good way of working together for a better and more spectacular Formula 1, which is what the FIA, Formula 1, the Teams, and most importantly, the fans want. Bravo."

Fernando Alonso considers his comeback drive to P7 at the Azerbaijan GP as "one of the best races of my life" after a tough start.

The Spaniard would be involved in a multi-car incident on the run to Turn 3 on the opening lap having become of the pieces in a three-car sandwich including Sergey Sirotkin and Nico Hulenberg.

Despite sustaining what many thought would be race ending damage, the McLaren driver returned and went on to make his way back into the points, extending his current streak of top 10's to six races.

“Today’s race was very complicated," Alonso said somewhat understatedly.

“The first lap in the midfield is the same old story; people preferring to crash into other cars rather than lifting off. My car was heavily damaged. I had two punctures, with one flat tyre damaging the floor. I also had a damaged front and rear wing.

“I really thought that would be the end of my race," he added. "But after the team fitted a new front wing and fresh tyres, I went back out, fought all race long, and actually found the car to be quite competitive."

The late Safety Car to recover the stricken Red Bulls brought the 36-year-old back into play, but regardless Fernando was delighted just to have not given up.

“I’m happy with the points. It was probably one of the best races that I’ve done in a long time, or the best race of my life,” he claimed.

Lewis Hamilton has criticised the tactics employed by Sebastian Vettel at the restarts after Safety Car period this past Sunday in Baku.

The Mercedes driver believes his fellow four-time world champion may have been over-stepping the rules on how he behaved when trying to get the jump on him and avoid being overtaken.

In Azerbaijan, given the length of the main straight, judging the restarts is particularly difficult with drivers being known to re-catch the Safety Car before it has returned to the pits or be overtaken into Turn 1 given the high potential of a slipstream.

"You are not allowed to start and stop, start and stop. You're not allowed to fake the guy behind," Hamilton claimed post-race.

"If there was not that rule, that's what you'd do because eventually, you'd catch them sleeping."

Many praised Vettel's judgement in Baku as he waited until almost reaching the grid before picking up speed, giving what would go on to be a three-second margin after the first lap at racing speed.

However, the Briton disagreed and was dismayed at the FIA's lack of interest.

I need to speak to [race director] Charlie [Whiting] because I don't understand," added the reigning world champion.

"I understand he passed it to the stewards but they didn't do anything. They supposedly said everyone was doing it.bBut we're the leaders and it cascades down, what the first car does everyone does the same thing.

"That now sets a precedent, and it means everyone who is leading under a safety car can start-stop, start-stop.

"I need to get it rectified when I have the briefing next because clearly, they don't care about it. I will expect it from him next time and I will try to prepare."

Also Read:

• Vettel remaining positive despite seeing win snatched away in Baku
• Hamilton: Baku win a reminder to never give up

Whiting was asked about the comments Hamilton made but made it clear he felt there was nothing he saw which justified an investigation.

Vettel also responded and claimed the reason was purely due to trying to warm up his tyres.

“The Safety Car should speed up,” he stated. “It was difficult with our tyres to keep the temperature up.”

The 30-year-old also had a little jibe adding: “Maybe after so many years of a Mercedes it would be nice to have a Ferrari Safety Car instead.”

Valtteri Bottas revealed he had no indication that he had run over a piece of debris before his tyre failed while leading with just three laps to go during the Azerbaijan GP.

The Finn had capitalised on a decision to stay out as long as possible on the Supersoft tyre that he had started the race with, pitting under the Safety Car that was caused by the colliding Red Bulls to switch to the Ultrasoft compound.

He would emerge ahead of long-time race leader Sebastian Vettel, who also decided changed tyres under the Safety Car, and saw the Ferrari driver's threat fade when an attempted attack at the restart failed.

That seemingly left the path clear for Bottas to take his first in of the season, but on the pit straight a lap later, he would run over a piece of debris causing a near-immediate failure which took him out and gave the win to teammate Lewis Hamilton.

“It is difficult to say anything. Everyone saw what happened. It’s just unfortunate, unlucky,” he said clearly distraught.

“I’ll maybe have 10 pints of beer and be fine. I’ll get through it, it’s part of racing but at the moment it’s very painful."

Also Read:

• Hamilton inherits win as Red Bulls collide at the Azerbaijan GP
• Vettel remaining positive despite seeing win snatched away in Baku
• Hamilton: Baku win a reminder to never give up

Though some have laid blame at the Baku marshals for failing to pick up the debris, the Mercedes driver just considered the incident one of the perils of a street circuit.

“Street circuits are difficult when there are a lot of crashes," he claimed. “It is always going to be an issue and this time it is just unlucky.

“I had no idea I had run over anything, I didn’t see or hear anything.”