Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has ruled out any potential future reunion with Renault for one key reason.
The two parties split at the end of 2018 after a 12-year partnership which including Sebastian Vettel’s four world titles but ended sourly after five difficult seasons together in the hybrid era.
This year, however, the lack of performance which blighted Renault and Red Bull’s latter years has been largely fixed and after McLaren recently announced their return to Mercedes in 2021, that now leaves the French manufacturer without any customers at all.
“As long as Max Verstappen is still driving for us, there will never be a Renault engine in our car again!” Marko strongly told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.
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Given the uncertainty over the Dutchman’s future that maybe one hurdle which doesn’t remain in place for all that long.
Also, Honda, as well as every manufacturer, is yet to commit beyond 2020 which could force Red Bull into needing a new supplier if they opted to pull out.
Given the continued animosity between Red Bull and Renault though, it’s hard to see the wounds headling enough for a reunification anytime soon.