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'Uphill struggle' to beat Mercedes - Boullier

Renault is not confident of beating Mercedes to fourth in the constructors' championship © Getty Images

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Renault boss Eric Boullier has admitted it is becoming less and less likely that his team will beat Mercedes to fourth in the constructors' championship.

Renault is currently 43 points behind Mercedes with three rounds left and has been outscored by its rival at the last three grands prix.

"With three races to go, it's now very much an uphill struggle - but this is F1, and anything can still happen," he said. "We have a huge amount of respect for Mercedes as competitors, they are the reigning world champion team, and they have had a strong second half of the season where they made the most of their opportunities.

"Even if we don't overhaul them in the standings, we can be very proud of our achievements this year. From a low point twelve months ago, we are the most improved team of 2010 and, in the second half of the season, we have been taking the fight to the teams at the front of the grid. That's a real tribute to the quality of the people we have at Enstone - and a very promising sign for the future."

Boullier said Renault would take advantage of any surprises at this weekend's Korean Grand Prix.

"It's always exciting to visit a new venue and, following our Roadshow in Seoul earlier this month, we know that Formula One can expect a very warm and enthusiastic welcome from the country's fans. Any new track brings with it plenty of unknowns, and the potential for surprises up and down the grid. The circuit presents a variety of challenges, some well-suited to our car and others less so. As always, our aim will be to extract the maximum from the car and to make the most of every opportunity that presents itself to us.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.