Renault anticipating big chassis and engine gains over the winter

Renault's Cyril Abiteboul says the French outfit is enjoying its most productive winter ever thanks to significant improvements achieved recently in its chassis and engine departments.

Renault concluded its 2018 campaign fourth in the Constructors' standings, or 'best of the rest' behind Formula 1's leading trio represented by Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull.

However, the French manufacturer has struggled to reduce the gap with Grand Prix racing's front-runners. But big progress could be on the horizon according to Abiteboul.

• Abiteboul: 'Renault must be in a position to win at a reasonable cost'

"If I look, what I see is an acceleration everywhere," Abiteboul told Motorsport.com.

"The gains that we will be making on the engine are much bigger than we have ever done in a winter – much bigger – and the gains that we are currently doing in the wind tunnel are much bigger than we have ever done.

"But, we have to be careful on the wind tunnel side, the aero side, as there is a big change of regulation. You all know that when it happens there is a big reset: you lose [downforce] and you quickly catch up.

"So it is difficult to make a distinction between what is coming from the regulations and what is coming from the effect of the restructure.

"But if I look at our capacity to engineer, to develop, design and manufacture, it is an acceleration everywhere."

When Renault returned to the fray as works outfit in 2016, it was on the basis of a five-year development plan that would see it target race wins and an outright championship by 2022.

Whether the French manufacturer fulfills its ambitions in the future remains to be seen, but no effort has been spared to build its foundation, Renault relying on an important recruitment programme to boost its potential.

The effects of its ongoing structuring and investment are already taking hold, says Abiteboul.

"The car we have been operating this year is more or less a representation of where the team was 18 months ago," added the Frenchman.

"There will be one or two generations of people who will have passed with the next generation of car that we will see next year, and that is frankly is why I am excited.

"We have a level of resource that is in my opinion good for what we need to do.

"There is stability of the organisation, there are new people and new faces that have finally joined us, and who understand the organisation, and are now working efficiently.

"So now it is positive, even if the challenge is huge."

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