Prost on Renault’s nine-year plan

As the 2016 Formula One season approaches, four-time World Champion Alain Prost has revealed that Renault have a nine-year plan to achieve before they are at their best.

Prost mentioned that the departures of Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado have given the team an opportunity to rebuild with their two promising new drivers Kevin Magnussen and Jolyon Palmer.

“We have a nine-year plan. Everyone at Renault knows that. It is impossible that we ride this year forward,” the Frenchman told Auto Motor und Sport.

“Everyone knows the story of the team last year. We must put a lot of work to bring it back on its feet.

“We do not want to lie to the people. In particular, the beginning of the season will be tough. We’re facing a development process that will take two or three years.

“We have to be patient. And we will do it. The question is whether the media and the public will have so much patience with us. Therefore, especially at the beginning, the right communication is extremely important.”

Unlike Mercedes or Audi, Prost added that it is not their immediate goal to win the World Championship but did state at some point in the future they hope to at least be in the same conversation as the top teams.

“To be World Champion for Renault not mandatory,” he explained.

“For Mercedes or Audi, it is much more important to win. You only have one claim. For us the World title is an addition.

“But we must at some point be able to ride at the head of the World Championships. So that people around the world feel Renault is a top team.”