Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsRenault

World championship not a necessary achievement for Renault - Prost

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."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.