Alain Prost has admitted Renault may struggle to beat its engine customers in 2018. Next year, the French carmaker will continue to run its own works team while supplying identical power units to both Red Bull and McLaren. F1 legend Prost, a Renault advisor, says it will not be easy for Renault to beat them.
But he told Auto Motor und Sport: "For me, the pressure is positive, even if it is difficult. The factory team will race against two well-established teams, where the entire organisation that Renault is still setting up already exists. And both of those teams also have top drivers -- maybe even the best. On paper we cannot beat Red Bull and McLaren," quadruple world champion Prost said.
The great Frenchman admits Renault was disappointed to miss its target of fifth in the constructors' championship in 2017. "But we will be better next year. And the comparison with the customer teams will help us to gain experience in order to get closer to the top teams," Prost continued. "We will be here for a long time so it's important that we make progress every year. In the end, if we want to win, we will have to beat everyone." (GMM)
Alain Prost: "Customers may beat Renault in 2018"
- Published on 07 Dec 2017 10:10
-
5
- By: Rob Veenstra
Trending news
-
Verstappen Makes His Choice: Fifth Title Over Le Mans Victory Every Time
Max Verstappen has been spending considerable time at the Nurburgring lately, and his passion for endurance racing is...
22 Apr 2026 18:25 -
Leclerc Says He Can Win the World Championship With Ferrari This Season
Charles Leclerc is not being cautious about his ambitions. After two podiums in the first three races and third place...
22 Apr 2026 17:23 -
Norris Reveals He Struggled With Mental Problems During His Title-Winning Season
Lando Norris has spoken openly about a period of real self-doubt during his world championship season, the year he he...
22 Apr 2026 16:21 -
Hill Says Hamilton Has Accepted the End Is Approaching: "The Things That Used to Come Naturally No Longer Work the Same Way"
Lewis Hamilton is back on the podium and back in the conversation at Ferrari, but Damon Hill sees something different...
22 Apr 2026 15:18 -
The Rule Changes May Actually Benefit Antonelli More Than Anyone Else
When Formula 1 announced its regulatory tweaks for Miami, most observers assumed the target was slowing Mercedes down...
22 Apr 2026 14:17
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
Test calendar
Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
World Championship standings 2026
Related news
Give your opinion!
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Team profile
- Team name Renault
- Base Enstone, France
- Fernando Alonso 1
- Daniel Ricciardo 3
- Fernando Alonso 5
- Fernando Alonso 5
- Fernando Alonso 7
- Romain Grosjean 8
- Fernando Alonso 8
- Fernando Alonso 8
- Pastor Maldonado 13
- Jenson Button 15
- Kevin Magnussen 20
- Nico Hülkenberg 27
- Jolyon Palmer 30
- Esteban Ocon 31
- Carlos Sainz jr 55
236,937 comments on Renault
26 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Renault

Replies (5)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
They are going up against McLaren and Red Bull. McLaren will be tough, but were financially crippled this year, and is now a Renault customer, not a works partner. Red Bull is probably impossible for Renault to beat ATM. But the advantage Renault has as a works team is not really to be underestimated.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
I think the strategy at Renault is the to play down expectations, the opposite of what teams usually do. I expect them to fight for podiums. I like to see they have a long-term strategy.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Its a sound strategy, like thst far better then loudmouthing.
Savio
Posts: 145
It's obvious mr. Prost
Barron
Posts: 625
Wow! Just how tall is Mario? I know Prost is a midget but really..? There was a picture the other day of Massa & Trulli together with the Hulk or somebody and they look like his children next him. It’s really astonishing just how small some of these heroic pilots are and how much strength they have to develop out of such a small frame. I am not small (1.88 metres) but sometimes I struggled getting a GT car around a track. My arms certainly knew all about it but I didn’t have power steering like these F1 pussies (lol) ?. Will Renault get beat by customer teams next year? Of course!