Renault Sport managing director Cyril Abiteboul has sent a blunt warning to Red Bull as they continue to consider their options for an engine supplier in 2019.

The French manufacturer and the Anglo-Austrian team have worked together for almost a decade and enjoyed the success of four consecutive championships thanks to Sebastian Vettel between 2010-2013.

When the current 1.6-litre V6 hybrid units were introduced in 2014, however, everything changed as Renault fell back from Mercedes and Ferrari and have been unable to fully close the gap since.

As a result, it has also left Red Bull as the nearly team, with a strong car and strong drivers but an engine that prevents them from challenging consistently for wins and the Formula 1 title.

That is why now, team boss Christian Horner and advisor Helmut Marko are pondering a possible switch to Honda power from next season, but Abiteboul is sure such a move would be detrimental.

"I understand what they are looking to get," the Frenchman told Sky Sports ahead of the Canadian GP this weekend.

"They are looking to the technical and commercial side, because it is clearly different remaining a customer and partner of Renault versus becoming a works team with Honda.

"It is very different and I appreciate that, but frankly, as far as I am concerned, they have a chance with us to become world champion again. I cannot say for Honda.

"Their car is clearly a great car, maybe the greatest out there, they have the chance to be world champion again within the next two years [if they stay with Renault]," he added.

This season, the Japanese auto giant, who split with McLaren after three years at the end of 2017, has enjoyed better results with junior Red Bull team Toro Rosso and Pierre Gasly scored their best result since returning with a fourth place in Bahrain back in April.

Honda is also thought to have greater resources to put into their engine program, however, the Renault chief is not giving up and is aware of the value of working with Red Bull.

"It is a complex decision for them and for us," Abiteboul claimed. "Maybe it is my emotional side. I have been working 12 years of pulling my hairs with Christian and Helmut, and I don't want to lose any of that.

"But frankly, in the construction of the Renault team, I think it is still interesting to get their benchmarking capacity.

"We know where we need to work based on what they are doing. They have showed that a Renault engine can win races in straight conditions, so that is a good sign of what we are doing, where we are progressing and where we need to progress."

Red Bull has said a final decision will likely be made by their home race in Austria which takes place on July 1.