Hulkenberg doubts Renault can catch top teams

Nico Hulkenberg doubts Renault can catch up with the top three teams in 2018.

The German driver admitted that Renault is now clearly 'best of the rest' behind Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull, but thinks that will stay the same this year.

'We can't expect too much'

"I am quite satisfied with the updates this year. He is referring to a new 'qualifying mode' in the engine and updated MGU-K unit.

READ: Red Bull refusing to use new Renault 'MGU-K' unit

But realistically we can't expect too much. As we have seen, the top six cars are just too strong. They drive in their own world.

I wouldn't have too many hopes to catch them in that regard this year," Hulkenberg added.

Valtteri Bottas, a Mercedes driver, agrees that in terms of engine power, Renault is still behind.

"At the moment the difference between Ferrari and Mercedes is almost nonexistent.

The Renault engine is slightly behind. But we are all much closer than we were a year ago," the Finn told Italy's Corriere della Sera.