Fisichella hopeful of mid-season progress

Renault are working flat out to solve their current problems following a disappointing start to 2007, with the French squad having a fifth place as their best result in three races.

The world champions had a four-week break to try to find solutions to their problems, before Formula One returns to action tomorrow in Barcelona.

And although Fisichella admits the team are in for a tough weekend in Spain, he is still optimistic the situation will change as the season progresses.

"Well at the last test we tried a new front suspension. We tried a couple of new bits on the rear wing and we made a small step forward. The car is a little bit better," the Italian told reporters ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix.

"We are a little bit quicker, but it is not a big step to fight at the moment for the podium.

"It is going to be another difficult weekend for us. We tried to do the best as the last race, score points and we need at least a bit of time to go on the specific area where the car is not working very well now.

"And try for the second part of the season to improve our performance and try to be as quick as Ferrari and McLaren."

He added: "But it is not easy. You need time for the development, even if we are working 24 hours a day it is not easy. We had a one month break and in one month we just found a few new solutions that were better. But they were not much better than what we expected."

The Italian driver also rubbished the comments attributed to him by Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport yesterday, in which he was quoted as saying Renault's car was a disaster.

"They were not my words. I am really disappointed for that article from yesterday in this newspaper," he said. "I am really disappointed because I didn't say that, I didn't say that Renault is a disaster.

"Absolutely not. I always said the car has a fantastic potential and the team is just working. There is a big motivation and now it is difficult.

"Realistically I cannot get on the podium now, but I am sure if we find the problem especially in the second half of the season then we can do."