Renault engine boss Remi Taffin is looking forward to the prospect of a fight between Renault's works team and customer team Red Bull.
Ahead of the re-launch of Renault's factory F1 team last week, Red Bull's Helmut Marko was quoted saying the French manufacturer should focus its resources on his team rather than its new works team. Taffin was not surprised by the statement and is looking forward to battling with Red Bull on track this year.
"If I were Dr Marko, that's exactly what I would say, because he has his team and he wants the best for his team and he wants to win," Taffin said. "Actually I would have been surprised if he had said the opposite. But this is my own judgment.
"As we want to make Renault win, at one point, we'll have to have a very good engine and if that engine is still fitted into the [Red Bull] chassis, for sure they will have a competitive package. Because we know how capable they are of producing good chassis. That'd make a good battle. I'd be happy to get a fight with Red Bull, eventually winning obviously."
Taffin says he is not feeling any more pressure now Renault has increased its investment to run an entire team.
"It's not about pressure. We're always under pressure. It's about our ability to turn that pressure into very good pressure. We were already under pressure with Red Bull or any other customers, because we had the pressure to do right and be first if you can.
"Now, it's our own company, we do our own cars and obviously if we win, we make this company win. It's more about the spirit of building a team, achieving things for everyone. As we say, it's actually for Renault. The pressure is there, maybe it's more pressure but it will also be more natural."