Renault Managing Director Cyril Abiteboul has accepted the manufacturer faces a tall order to achieve its goal of fifth in the standings, and is now targeting sixth spot.
Renault, in the second year of its return as a works team, set itself the ambition of classifying inside the top five, but recent reliability issues have hindered its prospects.
Nico Hülkenberg has retired from three of the past four races, while new recruit Carlos Sainz Jr. failed to reach the chequered flag in Mexico due to a steering complaint.
Renault holds seventh position in the standings, five points behind Toro Rosso, but 28 points adrift of Williams.
“The Mexican Grand Prix was particularly difficult with a number of unacceptable mechanical problems and we have the clear intention to take fast and strong measures,” said Abiteboul.
“The particularities of Mexico accentuated our weaknesses, but clearly we have not been successful in balancing performance and reliability.
“The performance of our engine has progressed a lot this year as the results in the race attest; we now have to find reliability, for both us and our customers, even if Max [Verstappen] won magnificently in Mexico.
“The team remains confident and united, which is essential to maintain progress to the end of the season, and also for our preparations for 2018. We have the means; our organisation is stable, robust and competent.
“This season we set ourselves the goal of fifth in the Constructors’ Championship. Whilst achieving this is still mathematically possible, it is now a tall order after a race where we didn’t score points.
“There are now two Grands Prix remaining. We will do everything we can to be sixth at the end of the weekend.”
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