Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley believes Renault poses a greater threat to his outfit finishing higher in the standings than McLaren, despite the latter currently having a higher points tally.
McLaren are fourth in the standings with 36 points, whilst Renault, following a strong finish in Azerbaijan, are just one point adrift in fifth. Force India meanwhile have just 16 points following a difficult start to the season, though the team outscored both Renault and McLaren in Baku with Sergio Perez's podium finish.
Speaking to Racer, Fernley is confident his outfit is quicker than both of those ahead, particularly McLaren, but reckons Renault could pose a greater threat to their target of securing fourth in the standings for a third consecutive year.
Link: 2018 Formula 1 Constructors' Championship Standings
“I think we were generally fourth-quickest across the board, both in race and in qualifying," said Fernley. "But I also think it’s very circuit-specific.
"I don’t think we’ve completely resolved the aero correlation issues that we’ve had following Melbourne, but I think we were stronger in Bahrain, we were pretty strong in China and we should have had points in both of those races.
"I think it [the podium in Baku] just gives us the opportunity to have a look again [at fourth]. That’s moved us up into sixth place now behind Renault and McLaren.
"I think we could have outraced McLaren on both recent occasions in Bahrain and China, it’s just first-lap incidents. Renault are looking very consistent and that’s probably going to be the harder one.”
