Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo, of Australia, celebrates his third place at the Hungarian Grand Prix last month. The Renault-powered F1 team are struggling for consistency this season.

Bernie Ecclestone has called on Renault to stay in Formula One and believes the French manufacturer should take over Lotus.

Renault’s future in the sport beyond next season is in doubt after a difficult campaign in which they have come under heavy criticism from Red Bull.

Renault’s contract with Red Bull and their sister team Toro Rosso expires at the end of 2016.

But Ecclestone, Formula One’s ringmaster, is hopeful they will remain in grand prix racing beyond next term, and has urged them to buy back the team it owned for nine years.

“I’d like them to take over Lotus, or start a new company on their own,” Ecclestone said.

“I’d rather not lose them because they’ve been with us a long time and they are easy people to deal with, nice people, there are no dramas anywhere.

“They said they were going to have a look at it and hopefully come up with a decision by September.”

Renault has been associated with Formula One for the best part of 40 years, either as a standalone team or engine supplier.

Fernando Alonso won back-to-back titles as a Renault driver in 2005 and 2006 before the French manufacturer formed a winning relationship with Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull culminating in four consecutive drivers’ and constructors’ championships.

But Renault have failed to replicate that success following the switch to 1.6 litre V6 turbo engines for the 2014 season.

And Red Bull have firmly pointed the finger at their engine supplier for their dwindling success.

Speaking to Autosport yesterday, Ecclestone added: “I’d like to see Renault get their engine competitive in the World Champion-ship, and if that’s the case then they will be in good shape.

“For them to come in as a team with an engine that is not competitive would not be good for them.”