Renault sets target of fifth place in F1 2017

Speaking at the launch of its new contender in London on Tuesday, Stoll said the car had been built “to deliver” after a tough 2016 season.

“The objective is very simple, since we have for the first time a car that has been developed by us, we expect to be fifth in the championship,” said Stoll.

“We have the team, the drivers, the partners and an organisation that is now managed under the leadership of Cyril [Abiteboul, managing director], and Bob Bell [chief technical officer], so frankly I would say that we are hungry for the podium and hungry for success now.

“I think that 2017 will be absolutely a great year, an exciting year and a crucial year – you will see what has been done by the team at Enstone and team at Viry, this is a product that you are impatient to see.

“[In] 2016 we set a vision for the competition within Renault. We have been working by investing a lot to close the gap to the best players, recruited a lot of people and have reorganised completely the two companies to make them deliver. This is what we expect in 2017 – this car to deliver.”

Big investment proof of ambition

Abiteboul pointed to the huge investment in staff since the team returned to the sport as a manufacturer entry in 2016 as proof of its ambition to rise up the grid this season.

“The pressure was on when Renault decided to come back to F1 in 2016,” he said. “The team is now in perfect harmony and perfect communication. It is one group of people working together to deliver one objective.

“We are the fastest growing F1 team, we have increased by 25 per cent the headcount, some targeted recruitment... it is investment also we have been investing to catch up – I think we lead [in that aspect].

“Looking at the regulations, we have best of what the technology can offer.”