Since French car maker Renault opted to return to Formula One as a fully fledged manufacturer in 2016 the team have found the going hard.
In 2015 Renault found themselves at a crossroads, after being heavily involved in creating the new V6 Turbo-Hybrid era, they had found themselves struggling against rivals Mercedes and Ferrari.
Their partnership with Red Bull Racing had become toxic and Renault needed to decide which path they would take.
They opted to purchase the Lotus team and return to the sport as a manufacturer, but this process takes time.
2016 was a year of transition and 2017 is likely to prove another 12 months of getting things right.
But eventually the team want to return to their former glories like that of back-to-back championships with Fernando Alonso in 2005 and 2006.
To do that they have to not only beat Red Bull Racing who are using the same power-units but also manufacturing giants Ferrari and Mercedes.
‘We’re rebuilding confidence in ourselves, understanding the drivers, understanding the car, understanding the tyres. That’s the sort of thing that you can expect to see more and more from us. Renault F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul told motorsport.com.
So what are Renault’s immediate aims?
‘I see ourselves as sixth in the championship in terms of hierarchy, after Force India and after Williams. Our ambition is to be fifth.
‘This weekend was the kick-off of our development programme, and hopefully we’ll be in that position. Clearly we have reduced the disadvantage we had in race conditions, and done a step in the right direction.’
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