Renault Sport Racing has issued a carefully worded statement saying that it 'acknowledges' today's announcement from Red Bull about 2019 engines.
Red Bull announced on Tuesday that it was ending its current engine supply arrangement at the end of the current season. The team has opted instead for a two-year deal with Honda, which already supplies the junior Toro Rosso team.
It's the end of a 12-year partnership between Red Bull and Renault. However the French manufacturer said that today's news was a natural progression given that the two companies have been increasingly at odds in recent years.
"Renault Sport Racing acknowledges the Red Bull Racing and Honda partnership announcement," read today's brief statement from the company.
"Two years after Renault’s return as a works team, we consider this is a natural evolution for both Renault and Red Bull Racing in view of their respective aspirations.
"In an extremely demanding and competitive environment we are proud of the extraordinary results achieved with Red Bull Racing over the past 12 seasons," the statement continued.
"In particular, the four Drivers’ and Constructors’ World Championships and 57 wins we have taken together.
Renault said that its factory team would now be its focus, together with its remaining customer team arrangment with McLaren that began at the end of 2017.
"After two seasons, we are fully focused on the strong progression of Renault Sport Formula One Team, while continuing to foster the fresh relationship with McLaren Racing."
In a separate statment from Red Bull, team principal Christian Horner thanked Renault for their work over the last decade.
"We have sometimes had our differences but Renault has always worked tirelessly and to the best of its ability to provide us with a competitive power unit.
"That is still the case today and we would like to thank the Renault team, and particularly the guys in our garage at every race, for their unstinting commitment.
"We look forward to ending our partnership on a high come the end of this season," he said, adding: "We wish Renault Sport all the best for the future."
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