Renault confirms Red Bull split is nigh

Renault's days as an engine supplier in F1 are "over" with chairman Carlos Ghosn confirming they will "either exit or run their own team".

After winning four consecutive titles with Red Bull, the relationship between the French manufacturer and the Milton Keynes outfit have turned sour as Renault has been unable to produce quick and reliable power units.

Although the two parties have a contract until the end of 2016, Renault confirmed at the start of this season that they are considering their options, but it was initially expected that they would still fulfill their engine contracts with Red Bull and Toro Rosso.

However, Ghosn has all but confirmed the end of the Red Bull deal as his company will either become a works team, with Lotus rumoured to be the outfit they will takeover, or leave the sport completely.

"We said very clearly, it's finished," he said at the Frankfurt Motor Show. "We already alerted the Formula 1 authorities [saying] that 'Don't count on us as a provider of an engine. It's over'.

"We will honour our contracts, no problem, but the occasion of Renault as a developer and supplier of engines stops."

Red Bull have in recent weeks been linked with an engine deal with Ferrari for 2016 after Mercedes made it clear that they are not interested in supplying the four-time Champions power units.

What is certain though is that the Red Bull-Renault relationship will come to an end.

Ghosn added: "I think we are today renegotiating the contracts, so it's too early to say what's going to be the conclusion of the contract."