One of the key reasons, according to Barretto, is the failure of Renault's long-term plans: a podium in 2018 and a position as a strong challenger for the constructors' title in 2020. However, as Barretto knows, the club was unable to achieve these goals: "The team, commanded by Abiteboul, lost out on both by quite a little." Renault had hoped that introducing Carlos Sainz Jr. would help it regain some ground against Mercedes and Ferrari, but this has not been the case so far. While the Spaniard has performed well during his first season with the team, he is not nearly good enough to be considered among the best drivers in the world. Furthermore, due to financial constraints, Renault was not able to retain the services of several key members of its staff this past summer, which includes Director of Engineering James Allison and Chief Operating Officer Fabien Grellier. It should also be noted that Jean-Eric Vergne, who has been with the team since 2014, will be leaving at the end of the season. Although no reason has been given for his departure, it has been rumored that he wants to drive for McLaren in 2019. In conclusion, Abiteboul left Renault because they were unable to meet its objectives this season.