Nico Hulkenberg says it is not guaranteed that Renault will be able to challenge at the top of Formula One over the coming seasons. The German driver joined Renault ahead of the 2017 campaign to lead the team’s push to challenge the likes of Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull for drivers’ and constructors’ Championship glory.
Renault finished best of the rest in fourth-place in the Constructors’ Championship last year, but have slipped below McLaren so far this season and are struggling to make inroads on the big three. Hulkenberg admits the entire team at Renault are working as hard as they can to bridge that gap, but feels they ultimately may not be able to challenge for glory.
“It’s not guaranteed. Nothing is guaranteed,” Hulkenberg told Formula1.com. “For sure, a lot’s been invested, a lot of work has been done. “The whole team operation has grown. I see a lot of good things that have happened during the last 24 months. I feel we have a good foundation now.
“But we need to really prove it. We need to get the job done. So I’m confident we can go a long way. How far? Only time will tell.” Renault have not won the Drivers’ Championship since the second of Fernando Alonso’s titles back in 2006, while that was also the last time they tasted Constructors’ glory.
