Renault Hit Back In Red Bull Engine Row

Renault have accused former world champions Red Bull of "lying" - denying their engine is solely to blame for the team's poor start to the season.

In a renewal of the war of words between the two parties which flared up last season, Renault came under fresh fire from Red Bull chief Christian Horner in the wake of the season-opening Australian GP when his team finished a lap down on Mercedes.

Horner described the French manufacturer's engine programme as being in a "bit of a mess".

He also claimed Renault had gone backwards in performance in the fortnight since the final pre-season test to the point where their engines were a massive 100 brake horsepower down on Mercedes powerplants in Melbourne.

Horner's comments were made after Red Bull designer Adrian Newey had already said there was "no obvious light at the end of the tunnel" to Renault's problems, which have been apparent since F1's return to turbo engines at the start of 2014.

But having been publicly rounded on by their principal engine partner in recent weeks, Renault have now hit back at Red Bull ahead of this weekend's Malaysian GP.

Cyril Abiteboul, Renault Sport's managing director, insisted Newey's criticisms were unwarranted.

"It's hard to have a partner who lies," the Frenchman was quoted as saying by The Sun.

"Adrian is a charming man and an outstanding engineer, but he has spent his life criticising his engine manufacturers. And he's too old to change."