Renault is planning to announce details of its future involvement in Formula One next week as it closes on a final decision on whether to turn Lotus into a works team.
Renault made clear earlier this year it felt it was not getting a return on its investment by existing purely as an engine supplier in Formula One. It signed a letter of intent in September to take over the Lotus team, but Renault's F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul says the company is still not in a position to go ahead with those plans this weekend.
"There will be no announcement regarding Renault's future, short or middle term, over the weekend, but there will be an announcement, very likely in the course of the next week," he said in Abu Dhabi. "We have always said we'd like to do that after the season - the season ends on Sunday."
Red Bull will continue to run Renault engines in one form or another next year, but the details of the arrangement are also on hold until a final decision from the French manufacturer is made on its own team. Abiteboul said Renault is in the advanced stages of a Lotus takeover, but admits it has been far from straightforward and has not yet been finalised.
"It's typical Formula One. It has been a proper roller coaster for us, for me, but also for the whole team, for a lot people involved, I should say technical people involved in the engine programme. It's fair to say that there is a process going on since the signing of the letter of interest on September 28, there is a process involving a lot of people.
"I think 50 people have been working night and day on the realisation of a possible acquisition of a majority stake in Lotus. It's a project, a proper roller coaster, very exciting"
Lotus deputy team principal Federico Gastaldi says he is also waiting on a decision from Renault.
"We're on the same page," he said. "We've been working all the time since the Singapore race. We have Renault people already at the factory and it doesn't change anything, they are the ones that have to announce. We cannot push Renault to make the decision because it is their call."