Fernando Alonso? Sebastian vettel? What is the next step for Renault?

Renault should not decide who will be Esteban Ocon's partner in the team in 2021, after Daniel Ricciardo has chosen to join McLaren.

It is understood that holding Enstone will take its time given its options.

Fernando Alonso, who won his two F1 titles with Renault, is linked to a move, as is Sebastian Vettel after Ferrari's departure at the end of the season triggered the sudden play of drivers this week for next season .

In a statement released Thursday by the team, Renault confirmed that negotiations on the Ricciardo renovation had been broken off.

Team director Cyril Abiteboul also said: "In our sport, and especially in the current extraordinary situation, mutual trust, unity and commitment are, more than ever , essential values ​​for a team. "

In an appearance in the Sky F1 Vodcast Last week Abiteboul said that although Ricciardo's presence on the team "means a lot to me", he insisted that his long-term strategy did not depend solely on keeping the winner seven times .

"We cannot allow the whole process and all of Renault's strategy to be based on the decision of one man, that's for sure. Even if that man only matters to me" , said the Frenchman, optimistic for the company. he would stay in F1 beyond 2020 with major changes to the sport's financial rules on the horizon.

Explaining that the aim should be to make sure he was competitive for the big change in F1 in car design, which has now moved to 2022, Abiteboul added: "The focus over the next two seasons will have to be on the hardware to ensure that any driver we have in the future gets the best of us so that we can meet everyone's expectations, starting with mine, starting with Renault in 2022.

Frenchman Ocon, a highly skilled talent, is in the first year of a two-season contract, although the delayed start to the season means that he has not yet competed for Renault.

What is happening now in front of the driver?

Linked to two of the biggest names in F1 over the past decade: Alonso, who did not rule out a return to sport after his departure in 2018, and four-time champion Vettel, Renault theoretically has two important options to consider in addition to the others. established drivers

But is Renault on the market for one or the other champion?

Martin Brundle of Sky F1 said: "I know Sebastian was talking to at least one team, so retirement is clearly not on his mind,

"You have to have a shot at Renault if you want, it's a work team. You'd be worried about the future, the Concorde agreement is still to come and the ; current state of the automotive industry …

"Renault will be the only rangers, they will be the only ones to use Renault engines from 2021 when McLaren goes to Mercedes, which, I think, is what attracts Ricciardo."

"I think Alonso is desperate to return to Formula 1, he will throw his hat in the ring somewhere. Could this be a third trip to Renault for him?"

"If I were to make money right now, I think it could be Sebastian's swan, but we don't know, and he still has great speed. It depends on how much Renault money must spend and where Formula 1 is. " after these difficult times. "

An alternative, as Abiteboul has confirmed, would be Renault's own young driver program.

"We also have an academy of young drivers in which we have invested heavily. The aim of this academy was to bring talents to Formula 1 by 2021," said the team director. on Vodcast.

"2021 is actually next year, it's another option. Whether it's an option we take or not, we'll see later."

F2 pilots Christian Lundgaard and Guanyu Zhou, as well as British F3 pilot Max Fewtrell, are in their children's books.