Hulkenberg thinks Renault are improving but still in "development phase"

Renault driver Nico Hulkenberg believes his side are improving but the French team are still in the "development phase" of their long-term plan.

Renault are currently sitting in fourth in the constructors' championship, but out of reach of Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes, with Haas pressuring the team's "best of the rest" title.

"The battle is tight in the middle of the grid," Hulkenberg told L'Equipe on Tuesday. "The other teams have worked a lot to make life difficult for us and we haven't looked very good. But we still have a good car and I think we can improve in the last four races and keep fourth place.

"Fourth is an improvement over last year. We are going in the right direction."

Hulkenberg, who's been at Renault since 2017, has been in a brilliant position to witness the improvement of the French team, but admitted that it will be a "few years" before they are challenging the before-mentioned top three.

"I arrived last year and I've seen the team grow enormously with the investments made by Renault," Hulkenberg told F1i. "The premises and equipment were improved and there were more people hired and more resources. Everything that can be expected from a manufacturer is there.

"Our ambition is always to be at the front, fighting for podiums and victories in a few years, but we are still in the development phase. I think we have put in place the structure we can build on in the next few years."