Formula One news

Renault still has some way to go - Symonds

Renault engineering director Pat Symonds says his team still has some way to go before regaining its old level of competitiveness, despite a major test session at Barcelona last week in which the team claimed to have made some significant progress.

"In previous weeks, we have said that the road back to our normal level of competitiveness will be a long one, and that is still true," Symonds said. "We have made good progress in our analysis and understanding of the R27, but we are not expecting a leap forward in our competitiveness relative to our rivals this weekend. It will be a tough race weekend where we have to fight for every point."

"The positives are not as easy to find as in previous years - but that doesn't mean they are not there," he added. "The team at the circuit has worked tirelessly during winter testing and the first three flyaway races, including a test session in Malaysia. Throughout, they demonstrated why we have just won two championships: race reliability has been exemplary, and details like the pit-stops were spot on. The work back at the factory is less public, but it has been no less intense. Analysis after analysis has been conducted, solutions tested and implemented. The work has been above and beyond the call of duty for all of our staff and the response to our current situation has been exemplary."

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