While Renault and McLaren both use BP/Castrol fuel and lubricants, Red Bull uses Exxon/Mobil, and Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul claims that it is the lack of development by the latter that is compromising the Austrian team.

"I was secretly hoping that Red Bull would have the pace to win," Abiteboul told Motorsport.com, referring to last weekend's Canadian Grand Prix which saw the Milton Keynes based outfit finish third and fourth using the latest upgraded Renault engine. "They were very, very close, but not quite there.

"We have more to come," he continued, "and they could have more to come from the fuel. That's something that's clear.

"We can guarantee an equity of performance of what is in our control, which is hardware, which is software," he added. "But not anything other than that, like fuel, because they elected themselves for strategic and commercial reasons to go for their own partner, which we appreciate, and we support by homologating their product.

"I'm sure Exxon has the ability and capacity to catch up, but they are a bit behind," he claims. "The installation is also a little bit different. That's why there are small discrepancies, and I accept that."