Cyril Abiteboul: "Podiums in 2018, it does not make sense"

Renault's grid bottom stable in 2016 has returned to the top 10 in 2017, thanks in particular to Nico Hulkenberg, who scored 43 of 57 points scored last season. The French team, back in full F1 two seasons ago, hopes to continue its progress in 2018, but also wants to be cautious in its ambitions.

"I do not want to get on the podium next year, it does not make sense," said Cyril Abiteboul, general manager of Renault Sport F1, in an interview for Motorsport.com. We know that there are three teams that will perform well, at least. Three stables, that's six cars. On the podium, there are only three places. It is clear that getting on podiums is not reasonable. Now, we must try to get as close as possible. "

To do this, the boss of Renault relies mainly on his duo of drivers, Carlos Sainz having joined Hulkenberg at the end of last season: "It is clearly a line-up with which one feels extremely well in terms of performance, potential , of energy but also of image. I think they represent something, they have a mouth, they have charisma. They represent this stable, they are the ones we want to put in the foreground and it is they who will continue to shoot us, with the energy of the youngest, with the experience of the oldest.