Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul has urged Red Bull to stick with the French manufacturer, rather than jump ship to Honda for 2019, as the deadline looms for the energy drinks-backed squad to decide which engine it'll run in Formula 1 next season.
Red Bull has grown impatient with Renault in recent seasons as the manufacturer has lagged behind Mercedes and Ferrari in terms of performance and reliability, reducing its chances of winning titles.
Red Bull sister team Toro Rosso switched to Honda power for 2018, a move Red Bull encouraged as a way for it to evaluate the Japanese manufacturer as a potential partner for the future.
Red Bull is edging towards a decision for its 2019 engine supply, with its options either remaining with Renault (its partner since 2007) or moving to Honda.
Abiteboul reckons Red Bull is better off with Renault, despite accepting that switching to Honda would provide the 2010-13 champions with a works deal.
"I understand what they are looking to get," he told Sky Sports F1. "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 champions again. I cannot say [the same] for Honda.
"With what they have now, what is coming in the pipeline, and their car which is clearly a great car, maybe the greatest out there, they have the chance to be world champions again within the next two years."
Abiteboul is also keen to continue the partnership as it provides Renault with invaluable data.
"In the construction of the Renault team, I think it is still interesting to get their [Red Bull's] benchmarking capacity.
"We know what we need to work on based on what they are doing. They have shown 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 team boss Christian Horner says his team will make a decision by their home race, the Austrian Grand Prix.
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