Nico Hulkenberg says “serious questions” have to be asked at Renault, including its development plan, in the wake of a disappointing first half of 2019.
Renault entered the new campaign with the ambition of closing the gap to the top three teams, having led the midfield group last year, with multiple race winner Daniel Ricciardo recruited alongside Hulkenberg.
But the team has been mired in the midfield this year, its plight accentuated by reliability setbacks and inconsistent performances from its R.S.19.
Renault currently holds sixth position in the Constructors’ Championship on 39 points, having scored in just six of the 12 events to be held this year.
“It’s obviously quite below our expectations and the targets,” Hulkenberg explained when asked by Motorsport Week on Renault’s season.
“I think we need to ask ourselves some serious questions and review a couple of things internally.
“There’s been far more lows than highs unfortunately and not really satisfying.
“[We need to review] how we go about things and where we’ve come the last 18 months with the car, what we’ve been doing. And the effect it has, which is not that much of an effect, so we need to ask ourselves in the future, so updates will bring some yield and bring us forward.”
Hulkenberg finished the Hungarian Grand Prix in 12th position, with Ricciardo – who started from the back after a Q1 exit prompted a power unit change – in 14th spot.
“Not enjoyable. Not great,” said Hulkenberg on his race.
“I had a power unit issue very early in the race, we lost the seamless shift a bit and lost quite a bit of lap time from power, from speed, that made it hard to stay in the race.
“And also the car was quite difficult to drive again, the balance didn’t really feel together at all today, it was fighting the front axle, the rear axle, didn’t have the pace, with these things we can’t expect too much.”
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