Abiteboul: We must be realistic

Renault team boss Cyril Abiteboul admits that his team have two big challenges when they return from the summer break.

Renault will be looking to lock fourth spot in the constructors' championship down, with Haas breathing down its neck.

There's just nine grands prix in this season's Formula One championship remaining.

"The summer break was needed for our batteries to analyse the past races and prepare for the second part of the season, so that we can maintain our current position in the Constructors' Cup," Abiteboul told SpeedWeek.com.

With time out to analyse their performances, Renault have decided to provide their two drivers, Nico Hulkenberg and Carlos Sainz Jr. with new parts for the races in Spa-Francorchamps and the Autodrom of Monza.

These parts include a new underbody and improved air deflectors for the car.

"Most of our resources are now focused on preparing for next year, because then as a team we want to make another important development move. But first we have to improve this year's package," Abiteboul explained.

"We will continue to drive the aerodynamic development and also try concepts in the upcoming races, which were developed with a view to the next year."

The Frenchman believes the next two tracks are two of the worst ones for Renault's RS18.

"Spa-Francorchamps is a big challenge and then Monza is about to start. We have to be realistic about our competitiveness on this kind of track with our expectations," the Renault boss admitted.