Renault is the biggest team without membership of the Strategy Group, although it could win a place for 2018 by beating Force India to the "best of the rest spot" alongside permanent members Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull, McLaren and Williams.

However, along with the three other non-member teams, it has now been invited to attend meetings.

Renault also had to negotiate hard with Bernie Ecclestone to secure the financial guarantees that helped to secure its return as a works entry in 2016, although it lags behind other major players.

"In fairness to Bernie and anyone else in the sport, the respect comes with success," Abiteboul told Motorsport.com.

"We will deserve the respect when we are successful, and that's what I'm constantly explaining to the people here.

"We're not part of the Strategy Group, but firstly we were not there when the Strategy Group was set up, and there is a ‘hot' seat, which is currently occupied by Force India, and if we want to be in the Strategy Group, we know what we have to do.

"I'm not the type of guy to constantly feel sorry for myself and our position.

"Bernie had his opinion about Renault, but when Renault was winning back in 2005 and 2006 with very successful drivers, and also a well-recognised team principal [Flavio Briatore], Bernie was extremely respectful of Renault, our voice was counting.

"If we want this situation to happen again, we know what we have to do."

Barriers to newcomers

Abiteboul cautioned that it would not be easy for a manufacturer such as Audi to join the sport now: "The sport to a certain degree is fair.

"The one caveat I would say to that is that I believe that the structure of the current Concorde Agreement doesn't necessarily allow for newcomers to come in the right conditions.

"For example, if Mercedes was to join today, I'm not sure that even with the success that they had over the years they would be able to be in the same position they are today in five years' time.

"New barriers have been created. If they joined today they would not be able to enjoy the benefits by executing the same remarkable plan. That's the sort of thing that needs to be reviewed."