Abiteboul: Renault in mid-season crisis as midfield teams send "wake up call"

Cyril Abiteboul, Renault's managing director, confirms they have received a "wake-up call" after Haas, Force India and Sauber all improve through the tripleheader. The French team still have a 19 point lead over Haas, their closest challengers, in the battle to become the 'best of the rest'.

At their home Grand Prix, the French team were talking about switching their focus to the 2019 car if their good form continued. But Haas have started to stand up to them in 2018.

In Austria, Renault failed to score points for the first time this season. A week later in Silverstone, no yellow car was present in Q3 for the first time.

"We've completed this busy period still in fourth place in the constructors' championship, but this position doesn't highlight mid-season wake-up call we've received," Abiteboul said in an interview on race fans.

Heading to German and Hungary before the summer break, Abiteboul believes his team can once again start to make gains over their rivals because the track suits their chassis. Haas have beaten Renault 32-14 over the past three races.