Renault open to Toro Rosso buy-out

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Cyril Abiteboul has confirmed that Renault is currently analysing a potential buy-out of Toro Rosso.

Renault, whose relationship with Red Bull is currently under some stress, is pondering the future of its F1 program. Several sources have revealed that four-time World Champion Alain Prost has convinced Renault top brass, mainly CEO Carlos Ghosn, of the merits of Renault returning at the helm as a full-fledged constructor.

With such a plan in mind, the French manufacturer has been looking at Toro Rosso as a potential take-over target as the affiliate Red Bull team is a clean entity with no debt on its books, contrary to Lotus, Force India or Sauber which may have also been looked at by Renault Sport.

"Toro Rosso is a possibility," acknowledged Renault Sport F1 managing director Abiteboul. "It may be a case of increasing or decreasing our F1 presence although our priority right now is to remedy our engine problems. We must react and correct the situation."

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