Renault advisor Alain Prost admits there is little sadness around the French manufacturer ahead of their final race with Red Bull in Abu Dhabi.
Despite a 12-year partnership that has brought 59 wins and four world championships, the relationship has been difficult between the two parties since 2014 as the turbo-hybrid era saw the Milton Keynes squad unable to challenge Mercedes with Ferrari also pulling ahead.
It has often led to Red Bull’s bosses and drivers being heavily critical of the Renault product and it is that which Prost admits the company won’t miss.
“We were ultimately not unhappy to see them go, you have to be honest,” he told L’Equipe.
“I keep very good relationships with them, even if I criticize their way of communicating. They always go a step too far, and they know it.”
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Red Bull will be swapping Renault for Honda in 2019 and recent upgrades by the Japanese company has led to claims they are now ahead of their French counterparts in the performance race.
While Prost has doubts about that, he does concede it is unlike Renault will be fighting Red Bull next year.
“Compared to Honda, we’re in front for now, but with the same engine the Red Bull was better than us, an indication of the efficiency of their chassis,” said the four-time F1 champion.
“There’s a significant gap and it won’t be easy to match them next year in this respect. But it’s not impossible.”