Hulkenberg hopes for more ambition from Renault in 2019

Nico Hulkenberg has admitted he is hoping for more ambition from Renault in 2019, to push the top three more than they did in 2018.

Renault finished fourth - claiming "the best of the rest" status in 2018 - but Hulkenberg is still not completely happy and wants his team to challenge the likes of Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes more in certain races.

However, the German driver, who will have a new team-mate next season in Daniel Ricciardo, has admitted it will be "very difficult".

"We have to, but it is very difficult," Hulkenberg told Italian website FormulaPassion.it. "It's all speculation, because we know what we're doing, but we are unaware of what the others are doing.

"Obviously, the new front wing is a sort of reset for next year, as its concept is characterized by a fairly important change on the cars. So, at this moment, it is complicae to provide an objective assessment.

"Of course, we know what we need to focus on and on which we must aim. We need to take a big step forward and as a factory team we have the obligation to believe in it."

Hulkenberg has also pointed out the improvements that the French side have already made on the F1 grid.

"I think we have made excellent improvements in various areas, especially in the team structure, putting the team in the right position to grow in the next two years," Hulkenberg concluded.