Three-time world champion Niki Lauda doubts Renault’s chances of fighting for the title for too long, citing the lack of any top driving talent in the car.
The Austrian says he is impressed with the car, but admitted the teams results will be limited by their drivers.
The Enstone based outfit had planned to race Robert Kubica, but an unfortunate accident during a rally stage ruled him out for the season, paving the way for Nick Heidfeld to return alongside Vitaly Petrov.
“Renault have a good car,” Lauda told Motorsport-Total, “but the team is of course up to a certain extent limited by its drivers Nick Heidfeld and Vitaly Petrov.
“They’ve indeed done a good job on the car, but when it gets right down to the last bit, it is of course the top driver [that makes the difference, and that] is missing.”
The 62-year-old says he would have more trust in better results had Kubica been in the car, despite two podium finishes for the R31 so far this season.
“With Robert Kubica at Renault I would have more trust.
“The Renault’s will surprise again and again with other podium places, but I think that it [their title fight] will eventually be over.”
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