Renault's Carlos Sainz Junior thinks it could take up to three years for his team to start winning again, as the gap with the top is currently still too big, but the team is making good progress and investing significant money in order to restore their former glory.
Sainz started his first full season for the French outfit two weeks ago in Melbourne, finishing tenth. He already drove four races for the team in 2017, after making the switch from Toro Rosso after spending over two years for Red Bull's development team. The Spaniard looks ahead to the coming years.
"Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull are a step above everyone else, and then there's McLaren and Renault," the Red Bull loanee told Spanish television-station Antena 3.
"Renault is investing a lot of money and people to win like they did in 2005 and 2006 with Alonso.
"We need a period of two, three years to win but I trust Renault."
Sainz almost vomited through his helmet during the Australian Grand Prix as he felt unwell during the race, but the 23-year-old managed to see out the race and take home a points finish for Renault.
“Half an hour before the race I had two bites of a banana that did not go down well,” he revealed.
"The first twenty laps of the race the water wouldn't stop coming, but if I moved the tube the radio mic would get wet so I couldn't.
"On lap twenty I couldn't take it anymore - I was covered in red isotonic liquid.
"I almost vomited but I didn't want to find out what happens if you do at those speeds!"
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