Relations between Red Bull and Renault have been prickly all year but Ricciardo, 26, was diplomatic when asked about the Renault engines this season.
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“We have already alerted the F1 authorities and told them: ‘Don’t count on us as a provider of an engine – it’s over”, Ghosn was quoted as saying by bbc.co.uk on Tuesday.
But while that had initially been expected to happen in 2017 after its current contract expired, it emerged in July that Red Bull had notified Renault of its intention to nullify the deal this year.
“Renault did a fantastic job supplying with a strong engine and the latest technique”, Vettel said.
Following months of tension between the French vehicle manufacturer and the Red Bull team over a lack of performance this season, it had always seemed likely that the companies were heading for a divorce.
Perhaps it’s a case of “too much, too soon” at Red Bull. No one is suggesting the team has forgotten the hard graft and savvy that won them four constructors titles, but senior management are nevertheless behaving like petulant children by engaging in fault-finding and scattering their expensive toys across the pit-lane.
Speaking of his chances of fighting for victory in this weekend’s Singapore race, Vettel added: “Looking at this year so far, when it’s been hotter we’ve been more competitive, but this circuit is unique – it’s about feeling the auto , having confidence, which makes the biggest difference round here”.
“Our future is the subject of detailed analysis and renegotiating”.
Renault no longer plans to be just an F1 engine supplier and Red Bull is set to turn to Ferrari for a supply of engines after being rebuffed by Mercedes.
Although swerving a question on the prospect of his new team, Ferrari, supplying his old one with power units, Vettel said it was unfortunate Renault’s pre-2014 achievements had since been overshadowed by their struggles to adapt to F1’s new turbo era.
“Unfortunately when we were winning championships the Renault name was never mentioned,” claimed Ghosn. If we start on the right foot then we will be there.
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While talks with Ecclestone are ongoing, Ghosn has said that the situation for him remains unclear, and there is a chance Renault could still withdraw from F1 totally.
