Renault promise Red Bull engine equality

Red Bull Racing ditched their supply of Ferrari power-units at the end of last year, and will become Renault's first customers since the French car manufacturer returned to F1 in 2002.

Renault's chiefs are adamant that there will be no favouritism towards their works effort on the engine front, and that both teams will be free to fight each other.

Denis Chevrier, Renault's head of trackside operations, said: "To supply Red Bull Racing we have increased the size of our race team by a significant amount, bringing in a large number of staff that used to be factory based.

"This is not a 'discount version' of our own team programme and, in fact, it's almost identical to the factory team.

"If the customer beats the factory? It will mean the factory needs to do a better job! Any anxiety or jealousy will be between the chassis engineers, not the engine engineers."

Rob White, Renault's engine technical director, added: "From an engine perspective we will give exactly the same specification to both teams. Of course our priority is the 'works' teams, but we will do the best possible job for Red Bull Racing."