Prost: Renault must end 2019 strong

Alain Prost has called on Renault to deliver a strong end to 2019, despite seeing their hopes of beating McLaren to fourth in the constructors' championship all but extinguished.

Renault trail McLaren by 38 points with just two races in Brazil and Abu Dhabi to go this year, putting pre-season targets of closing the gap to the top three into harsh context.

The French squad have struggled for consistency and reliability this year following the big-money signing of Daniel Ricciardo, with Esteban Ocon to replace Nico Hulkenberg in 2020 as Renault seek a spark to turn their fortunes around.

And the team's advisor Prost says a strong end to 2019 can lay the foundations for better times in 2020.

"It's not over but we are more confident for sure," Prost told Motorsport.com.

"After what happened when we lost the points in Japan – it makes quite a big difference, because it's not only losing points, it gave more points to the others. So we really deserved to be where we are.

"At least at the end of the season we need to show something, because it's good for the morale of the people. We have had a very tough season.

"We have been good most of the time for the second part of the season in races, but sometimes you have accidents at the first corner or whatever. With a little bit of luck we can fight more with McLaren.

"We know where we are, but it's very different to explain outside. Because you're trying to build something, sometimes you lose a bit. We are still not in a very stable situation because as you see we are changing the organisation.

"But we keep going. I'm not at all pessimistic for the future, but it takes a little bit more time to be there."

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