Renault boss Flavio Briatore has targeted a return to the pace for the beleaguered world champions within the next three races in 2007.
The Italian told the newspaper Gulf News that it was a “mistake” to focus for so long late last season on developing the 2006 car for Fernando Alonso’s successful title bid.
“But we cannot undo lost time,” Briatore said before jetting out of Bahrain, where his Enstone-built cars finished nearly a lap behind at the chequered flag.
He said Renault would make good use of the nearly four week break before the next grand prix, in Spain, to close the gap to Ferrari, McLaren and BMW.
“We need to correct the mistakes and we hope to do this within the next three races.”
Team driver Giancarlo Fisichella, however, has already written off any chance of being a championship contender this year after finishing just eighth in Bahrain.
He said: “I feel a little bit disappointed because at the beginning of the season I was confident to fight for the title.
“Unfortunately we cannot do that any more.”
