Renault targeting 2011 title

The Renault team will be aiming for a gradual rise to rostrum places during the 2010 season with a title challenge planned for 2011, according to Bob Bell. The Northern Irishman, who stood in as Team Principal following the sudden departure of Flavio Briatore last year, stresses that the Genii Capital-owned squad remains pragmatic.

After returning to Formula 1 in 2002 and clinching fourth overall in the Constructors' Championship, Renault's fall to eighth in 2009 was naturally viewed as a huge disappointment for the Enstone outfit, which claimed double championship successes courtesy of Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella's efforts in both 2005 and 2006.

"The real target for us is to build for 2011 and a championship campaign," Bell explained to Autosport, "but we have realistic expectations for 2010; we are not going to produce a car which catapults us to the front because F1 is very competitive – but our 2010 expectations are to run towards the front and challenge for the top three."

Poland's Robert Kubica is the first driver to be signed by Renault for the new decade although a team-mate for the ex BMW man yet to be named.