Former quadruple World Champion and Renault ambassador Alain Prost has said that a world championship title is not an imperative for the French manufacturer in the future.
Renault has enjoyed a prosperous history in Formula 1, having one multiple titles in the past as an engine manufacturer for Williams, Benetton and Red Bull, and also as a works team in 2005 and 2006.
But Alain Prost believes the manufacturer's nine-year plan in Grand Prix racing is to build its team up to a competitive level whereby it may consistently challenge for outright wins.
"Winning the world championship is not necessary for Renault," Prost told Germany's Auto, Motor und Sport.
"But at some point, we must be able to race at the top of the world championship, so that people around the world perceive Renault as a top team.
"For Mercedes or Audi, winning is much more important, while for us the world title would be a bonus."
Prost also decried those who have criticised Mercedes for its supremacy in the past two years, believing that it is unfair to lay the blame at the feet of a manufacturer which simply did better than its rivals.
"Let's just be honest: Mercedes did a better job than others and for that they deserve their success. Sometimes in Formula 1, you must accept the fact that someone else is doing a better job than you."
Mercedes still digging for F1 power unit gold
Who are the new Renault F1 juniors?
Key dates for the 2016 F1 season
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
