Renault is not expecting to be on 'winning terms' with Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull until at least 2019 according to the team's boss, Cyril Abiteboul.
The French manufacturer-backed outfit has a long term goal, with the aim to finish in the midfield this season before gradually moving up the grid, before targeting race wins and then world championships.
Whilst Abiteboul believes they're on target to achieve the midfield finish – the team is currently eighth in the standings with 18 points, three behind Haas and 15 off Toro Rosso – he isn't predicting any race wins next season, insisting they will have to wait until 2019 to achieve that.
"We wanted to establish ourselves in the midfield this year," Abiteboul told Auto Motor und Sport. "We succeeded in that, even if we would like to climb a bit higher in the standings.
"Victories must be possible in 2019," he added. "It sounds like a long time, but it is not. We know where the top teams are."
Alhtough Renault ramped up its technical hirings prior to the current season in a bid to push itself higher up the pecking order, the effect of those hirings won't be felt for at least two years according to Abiteboul.
"Formula 1 is about people [but] If I sign someone today, I have to wait one to two years before I can use that talent, so it only has an impact on the 2020 car."
Abiteboul also addressed Jolyon Palmer's lack of points – with team-mate Nico Hulkenberg having scored all 18 – and whilst he says they cannot "afford" to rely on just one driver, he wouldn't be giving the Briton an ultimatum.
"We can not afford it," Abiteboul said of Palmer's lack of points. "Jolyon Palmer must make a contribution and he wants to contribute.
"I do not doubt he can. He was fast in Monte Carlo and Montreal. I will not give Jolyon an ultimatum. We both know that he can score points with this car. And he has to do that."
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