Renault wants Formula 1 to freeze engine development for the 2019 and 2020 seasons to avoid the "burden" of developing two different engines.
With F1 set to introduce new engine regulations for 2021, aimed at reducing costs and attracting new manufacturers by simplifying the technology, Renault insists a development freeze is needed to ensure new entrants don't gain an advantage as they would be able to devote all their resources to the 2021 power unit, whereas without a freeze, existing manufacturers would need to split their resources.
"The one thing we will not want to do is to have the burden of developing two engines in parallel," Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul told Autosport.
"That's one thing that is sure, but it's too early to talk about the technicalities of the way achieve that."
Liberty Media is due to present its plan for the new engine as well as new aerodynamic regulations during a meeting in Bahrain next weekend, and Abiteboul says he will stress the need for a freeze.
"There are two things basically in our key message and our position at Renault. First before committing to a regulation, we need to understand the bigger picture.
"And secondly we don't see it's acceptable or sustainable to have to work on two engines in parallel at the same time, for the simple reason that if there was to be a new entrant, which is what we wish, he will have a fantastic advantage in being able to focus on the future, and not to have to worry about the present and the customers, and so and so forth."
