Renault: 5-way fight for P4

Renault’s Chief Technical Officer Bob Bell believes that his team have a good chance to finish as ‘best of the rest’ in the 2018 Constructors’ championship but believes the French manufacturer will have a tough task fending off four other teams aiming for P4.

Renault showed impressive pace in testing, but a number of others produced positive running in Barcelona.

Bell said: “We had a solid winter test campaign with reliability, so that’s a good cause for optimism.

“In terms of performance, it’s difficult to say where we are.

“The top three teams are out in front again, but behind you have ourselves, Force India, Toro Rosso, Haas and McLaren in the mix.

“There’s not an awful lot to separate us, so it’s difficult to draw firm conclusions before the first Grand Prix.

“I think we’ve done a good job of developing the car and I think we’ll be in there with a chance of a haul of points.

“I’m not sure if we are seeing teams’ true pace at the minute. All teams will bring upgrade packages to Melbourne, and that’s when everyone shows their true hands.”