“We have an agreement for an engine for next year which we hope will be confirmed within the coming days,” said Horner. “It will have a development path – ironically of what we were trying to achieve 12 months ago.”
Horner’s second reference is understood to be in relation to Renault’s use of Mario Illien to help ramp up improvements in the power unit.
Renault F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul told Motorsport.com earlier this month that it was considering Illien’s involvement in a revamped F1 programme.
“We need to use all the energy and the resources that we have available,” he said. “I am absolutely not precious about where the solution is coming from – what I want is the solution. Full stop.
“There is no obligation [to take Illien], and there is nothing that is coming from us top down, from Red Bull. There is just a clear willingness to find a solution as quickly as possible.