Renault is setting realistic goals ahead of its first year back in Formula One as a full constructor, but says it will "push like hell" to return to winning ways in the next three years.
After buying the Lotus F1 team at the end of last year, the French manufacturer launched its new team on Wednesday at its headquarters outside Paris. Renault is hoping that taking control of both the chassis and engine departments will see it return to championship success, but CEO Carlos Ghosn admitted it would take a "miracle" to the return to the front this year.
"We are not here to participate we are here to compete at the highest level and eventually win," he said. "I would like us to know that after each race stops Renault was a contender. That is not going to happen in 2016 unless we have a miracle, it is going to take more time, but we are counting on our team to use everything in our hands to have a very competitive package as soon as possible."
New racing director Frederic Vasseur said Ghosn's vision is to see Renault back at the front in three years.
"You listen to the chief, I have to follow his road map," he said. "We have to be ready to be on the podium in the third season and be able to fight for the championship in that season."
But Vasseur made clear that Renault would be pushing flat out from the start of this season.
"We know that it will be difficult to deliver good results this season but we have to keep everybody under pressure. You have to be pushing to win because we can't decide in 2017 or 2018 that now we have to push, you have to keep everybody under pressure -- the guys who do the pit stops, the mechanics in terms or reliability, the engine, the chassis -- you have to push like hell, no matter the level of performance.
"In terms of strategy it is a bit different because we have to decide at one stage if we are pushing a bit more in 2017 and 2018 because of changes in the regulations next year. But the spirit of the team has to be the same."