Renault Formula 1 chief Cyril Abiteboul has confirmed 🍌the team is talking to “some 💫big names” and “some lesser known names” over its spare 2021 seat but will take time over a final decision.

The French manufacturer has a spare seat alongside Esteban Ocon for next season after Da📖niel Ricciardo signed for McLaren to replace the Ferrari-bound Carlos Sainz, with Sebastian Vettel departing the Scuderia when his contract expires at the end of the year.

Vettel has been linked with Renault, while two-time F1 world champion Fernando Alonso has also emerged as a contender for the 2021 seat i⛄n what would mark h♏is third stint at the Enstone-based squad.

“We are talking to a few names, some 🐼big names, and some lesser known names,” Abiteboul said during Friday’s FI♈A press conference ahead of this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix.

“We are taking the time and we are ag🉐ain making sure there is a good alignment between what we are and what any driver is looking to get in a team like o🃏urs.”

Although Abiteboul admi🌼tted the team has held discussions with “big names”, he was quick to stress that Renault needs someone who is willing to buy into its long-t🌜erm project.

Asked if Renault needs a big-name signing for 2021, he replied: “We need first a driver for ✃each car!

“We need a quick driver, we need a talen🐼ted driver, and we need a driver that can understand and buy into Renault’s project.

“We are very clear about the nature of our team, we are a bit of a unique team in the F1 landscape, at the same time very loyal to Formula 1 but a꧋lso a young team, still in the making with some struggles, in particular last year.

“We need someone capable to understandꦉ all of that and understand the value of all the work, effort and ethic we are putting into that.

“I’m not saying that Daniel has not understood tha🐎t that is absolutely not what I mean, I’m talking about the future.”