Renault Formula 1 chief Cyril Abiteboul has confirmed talks are ongoing with the FIA regarding Marcin Budkowski's start💖 date with the team, whose gardening leave may be doubled in a bid to ease some concerns from rival teams.

Ex-FIA technical chief Budkowski was announced as Renault's new executive direct🐬or on Friday, having been subject to complaints from a number of rival teams in Malaysia given 🧸he has been privy to details about their car designs and plans in his previous role.

Multiple team bosses fe🧸lt Budkowski's planned stint away of just three months was not long enough, and Abiteboul confirmed that talks arಌe ongoing to potentially double it and allay some of these fears.

"There’s been a lot oꦺf talk about [his gardening lea꧂ve], not from us. We always made it clear we would not want to be aggressive in relation to that," Abiteboul said.

"From a contract perspective, he could be available as soon as early next year, but we’ve had constructive discussions with the FIA and I think we are close to rea💃ching an agreement on a start date that would make everyone be comfortable: early April, which is basically twice his gardening provision which has been discussed.

"I think it’s not completely confirmed yet, but that’s something we are ღcompletely prepared to entertain as far as we are concerned."

Mercedes F1 technical chꦏief James Allison su꧟pported an extended period of gardening leave, but that it was too late to enforce any changes within the Budkowski deal.

"If an FIA employee leavesꦐ and re-joins a team, you would wish I think to have somewhat longer notice period than three months," Allison said.

"I thi💦nk probably everyone on the FIA's side and teams' side 🍷would say that.

"But this isn't the situation today. I guess we'll all just swallow i♕t and get on with 🌞it."