LONDON, Aug 21 (Reuters) Struggling Formula One champions Renault have switched their main focus to next year's car now that their hopes of a third title in a row have disappeared.
Technical director Bob Bell made clear in a team preview for Sunday's Turkish Grand Prix, 12th round of the 17 race championship, that the emphasis was now on 2008.
''We will have some minor aerodynamic upgrades in Turkey, and a new aero package (at the Italian Grand Prix) in Monza adapted to the very low drag set-up we require there,'' he said.
''We will also be working hard to extract more performance at the track from our most recent developments. Back at the factory, though, the moment has come to focus our energies on 2008.
''We have always said that our problems this year would not compromise next year's programme, and that remains the case,'' added Bell.
''Our design and development resources are already focusing intently on 2008. We began work on the car early, and our approach has been quite different to recent years.
''The project is on time, and we have been exploring some very interesting new development paths,'' he said.
Renault started this season on the back foot after developing their 2006 car right to the end of the year to fend off the challenge from title rivals Ferrari and now-retired Michael Schumacher.
The team, who lost double world champion Fernando Alonso to McLaren, have not appeared on the podium so far this year and are fourth overall in the constructors' standings with just 33 points compared to leaders McLaren's 138.
A maximum of 108 points remain to be won, and McLaren's existing tally could rise if they win an appeal next month against the stewards' decision that cost them 15 points at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Renault have yet to confirm either of their drivers, Italian Giancarlo Fisichella and Finland's Heikki Kovalainen, for 2008.
Bell said McLaren and Ferrari were clearly a step ahead of the rest and Renault's target for the remainder of 2007 was to beat third placed BMW Sauber in some of the races.
REUTERS BJR KN1715
Technical director Bob Bell made clear in a team preview for Sunday's Turkish Grand Prix, 12th round of the 17 race championship, that the emphasis was now on 2008.
''We will have some minor aerodynamic upgrades in Turkey, and a new aero package (at the Italian Grand Prix) in Monza adapted to the very low drag set-up we require there,'' he said.
''We will also be working hard to extract more performance at the track from our most recent developments. Back at the factory, though, the moment has come to focus our energies on 2008.
''We have always said that our problems this year would not compromise next year's programme, and that remains the case,'' added Bell.
''Our design and development resources are already focusing intently on 2008. We began work on the car early, and our approach has been quite different to recent years.
''The project is on time, and we have been exploring some very interesting new development paths,'' he said.
Renault started this season on the back foot after developing their 2006 car right to the end of the year to fend off the challenge from title rivals Ferrari and now-retired Michael Schumacher.
The team, who lost double world champion Fernando Alonso to McLaren, have not appeared on the podium so far this year and are fourth overall in the constructors' standings with just 33 points compared to leaders McLaren's 138.
A maximum of 108 points remain to be won, and McLaren's existing tally could rise if they win an appeal next month against the stewards' decision that cost them 15 points at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Renault have yet to confirm either of their drivers, Italian Giancarlo Fisichella and Finland's Heikki Kovalainen, for 2008.
Bell said McLaren and Ferrari were clearly a step ahead of the rest and Renault's target for the remainder of 2007 was to beat third placed BMW Sauber in some of the races.
REUTERS BJR KN1715
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