Renault engine boss Remi Taffin believes combustion engines still have a “long future” in Formula 1.
Earlier this month, F1 chief technical officer Pat Symonds hinted at the future direction of power units by talking up the potential of two-stroke engines with greater electrification.
Previously, Renault, who drove the move the hybrid engines in 2014, have spoken about the need of F1 to go down the electric path.
But as the sport starts to prepare for the next big revamp of its engine formula around the middle of this decade, Taffin has offered a different view.
“Many people are talking the combustion engine into the grave, but I think it has a long future,” he told Auto Motor und Sport.
“Look at our current engine. We do a very good job of burning the fuel as efficiently as possible. The problem is that we market what we have achieved very poorly.
“But the engines are not only so efficient because of the hybrid part. The combustion engine also provides a big part of that and we should make that clearer.
“The question for the future will be whether we should increase the hybrid part or prefer to go with environmentally-friendly fuels.”
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In the short-term, Renault’s eye is firmly on 2021 and capitalising on the new budget and technical regulations to try and close the gap to the top three teams.
“I’m not revealing a big secret when I say that 50 per cent of our resources are already aimed at 2021,” Taffin stated.
And in that quest, the Enstone-based team received a boost with the news that former McLaren engineer Pat Fry will take up his new role as technical director, focusing on the chassis, next week on February 5.