Renault F1 driver Jolyon Palmer says the team’s expectations for this weekend’s 2016 season opener in Australia are "pretty low".
The French manufacturer took over the struggling Lotus, which suffered financial problems last year, at the end of 2015 and returns as a constructor this season.
Palmer will partner Kevin Magnussen at the newly rebranded Renault outfit. The Danish driver was confirmed as Pastor Maldonado’s replacement at the beginning of February.
Renault unveiled its official 2016 race livery on Wednesday at a launch event in Melbourne, showing off the team’s new yellow and black colour scheme.
Following the Enstone-based outfit’s issues late in 2015, Palmer has admitted that Renault remains realistic in its expectations for the opening round.
"Well, it’s difficult to say at this moment," he said during the FIA driver press conference on Thursday.
"Taking over from Lotus there were a lot of difficulties over the winter, everything was a little bit late.
"The expectations are pretty low and this year is just about building a foundation. So I think we need to build a solid base and the team has a lot of potential to move forward in the next few years."
When asked if points are achievable this year, he replied: "I think for us it’s definitely a goal for us to be in the points at some point in the season.
"I think that if we can start off with a solid base this weekend then I think we’ve got good potential to improve over the course of the season and so definitely, we hope to be in the points."
