Renault targeting improvement and nothing more

Four-time Formula One world champion Alain Prost has insisted that Renault's only current ambition for the 2018 campaign is to simply improve upon their sixth-place finish in the 2017 season, with the advisor to the constructor team insisting that only moderate goals have been set.

This was a forgettable year for Renault as their finish in sixth means they have now gone over a decade since their last championship victories which were won consecutively over 2005 and 2006.

The mediocrity of the season means that Prost, in his role as advisor to Renault, will not set goals which are unattainable.

"I think we have to be realistic and careful with our objectives," the Frenchman told Auto Hebdo.

"Why? Because the teams in front of us have been building up for years. We must evolve step by step but keep showing that we are progressing."

Prost went on to give a very specific target for next year, even if the main idea is to close the gap on the better teams on the circuit at the moment.

"This is to acknowledge what needs to be done to narrow the gap to Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull," he continued.

"What we have to show next year is that instead of being 1.5 seconds behind per lap, it is only 0.8.

"That's how we will do it. We must build, not just the car but a team spirit and attention to detail."