Fernando Alonso has been left lamenting Renault's lack of pace after trailing home 10th in the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Double world champion rules out podium finishes
Fernando Alonso has been left lamenting Renault's lack of pace after trailing home 10th in the Bahrain Grand Prix, the double world champion claiming they are now the eighth quickest of Formula One's 11 teams.
The 2005 and 2006 Constructors' Champions have fallen way down the order in more recent times and currently stand sixth in the standings thanks to points gleaned by Alonso in the Australian and Malaysian grands prix.
The Regie's form plummeted yet further at Sakhir, with Alonso unable to improve on his grid position, while team-mate Nelson Piquet - who started 14th - retired with a gearbox failure.
Alonso was also driven into by Lewis Hamilton on lap two of the race, an incident which led to accusations that he had 'brake tested' his 2007 rival - a charge subsequently disproved when Renault published telemetry data from his car.
The Spaniard only briefly ran in the points when quicker cars made pit stops, a state of affairs which has led him to conclude that, for now, points will be difficult to come by.
"To be the eighth quickest out of eleven teams is too far back," Alonso admitted to Spanish newspaper
Marca.
"No longer are only Ferrari, McLaren and BMW ahead. Now also in front of us are Toyota, Williams, Red Bull, Honda..."
Package
Nevertheless, Renault are hoping that the introduction of a new aerodynamic package in time for Alonso's home grand prix in three weeks' time will help close the gap between themselves and F1's frontrunners.
But, as Alonso conceded, Renault will not be the only team introducing new parts during next week's test at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya - also venue for the race on April 27th.
"We will see how much it (the aero upgrade) can improve the car and how much they also improve the other equipment," Alonso continued.
"It is the only hope we can hold on to - and we need something.
"And if it doesn't happen, it will be worrying because today for example (Giancarlo) Fisichella was faster than I was in a Force India."
Asked if a podium finish would be possible this season, Alonso added: "That is impossible because we would need to gain a second and that just isn't there - that level of improvement doesn't exist.
"But, that isn't what we are looking for. What we are looking for now is to be level with Toyota for example.
"To enter qualifying two and qualifying three and to work our way up to race the big three, Ferrari, McLaren and BMW."
