F1's 2017 rules shake-up too early to help make Renault winners

The French car manufacturer is undergoing a restructuring of its Enstone-based operation following the takeover of Lotus last year, and has mapped out a three-year plan to finish on the podium.

And although the arrival of faster F1 cars next year is expected to shake up the order, Renault thinks it will still need more time before it can become a contender at the front of the grid.

Renault racing director Fred Vasseur told Motorsport.com: "Next year it's not possible, because it's not only a matter of regulations, it's also a matter of structure.

"You have to build up the team in F1, and to build up the team is a mid-term project. With gardening leave and so on, when you want to recruit someone you have to wait at least 18 months.

"So it means you won't be able to collaborate and work on the car for two years.

"That's life, that is the situation. It probably means that much bigger teams are also much more prepared for the change in regulations than us.

"It [the rule changes] could be an advantage if you were a contender today, but I'm not sure we will reduce the gap to the top."

Plan in place

Vasseur has said that the focus so far for the team has been in laying the foundations for the future, rather than being able to make quick changes to the organisation.

When asked how the structure at the team now compared to when Renault took over, he said: "It's not really different, because the first thing was to have a clear view.

"[Technical director] Bob Bell is really dedicated to the project and now we have to identify the possible recruitments and the investments that are needed.

"We've done that for the first four months, and now we have to act on it. But it's okay: it is a long term plan. We won't be able to deliver next week for a huge step."

Driver plan

Vasseur has also said that the focus on the long term was also relevant for drivers, with the team determined to pick out stars of the future.

"The best way for us, to be honest, is to find the world champion driver of 2020 or 2021, and try to build the collaboration with them from now.

"If you have a look at the past, it is the same kind of story where teams always built up with drivers. Red Bull did it with [Sebastian] Vettel. Renault did it with [Fernando] Alonso.

"You have to build up the collaboration when you want to have the success. It will be part of our job for the next two years."