Updates crucial to Renault's season

Eric Boullier says the success of Renault's updates will define the rest of its season © Sutton Images

Enlarge

Eric Boullier says that the updates Renault will be bringing to the Belgian Grand Prix will be crucial in defining the rest of its season.

After a promising start saw two podium finishes in the first two races, Renault has slipped further off the pace with neither driver having finished higher than eighth in the last four grands prix. As a result, Boullier is now pinning his hopes on substantial upgrades which he says are focussed on the rear end of the R31.

"It's a complete package including a new floor, a re-worked exhaust and a different rear suspension arrangement," Boullier told the Official Lotus Renault website. "It really will be quite comprehensive and I hope we will see results from these enhancements."

Renault's recent poor form has seen Mercedes leapfrog it in the constructors' championship, and Boullier said that the target was to regain fourth position, the likelihood of which would be visible following the next three races.

"Our expectations are still to finish with both cars in the top 10. We need to catch up with Mercedes GP, who has replaced us in fourth position. In Spa we will see if the upgrades are enough to do this, but I hope they will be.

"We are now at a point where we switch a lot of our resources to next year's car, which of course adds new challenges. Crucially, we need to see what impact our upgrades have at the forthcoming races in Spa, Monza and Singapore. It is this, above all else, that will be the key indicator in how fruitful the remainder of our season is. We're back and we're looking forward to finding out."

ESPNF1