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Pat Symonds believes it won't be long before Renault close the gap to Ferrari and McLaren and begin fighting for this year's world titles.

Renault, the world champions in 2005 and 2006, have lacked the pace needed to challenge their main rivals during pre-season testing, with Ferrari and McLaren dominating the timesheets.

The Anglo-French squad's disappointing performances during testing recently led to Giancarlo Fisichella confessing that they are as much a half a second off the pace.

"We are struggling a little bit at the moment. We need to find a little bit of pace," he told the Herald Sun.

"Ferrari and McLaren are a step forward at the moment. McLaren and Ferrari are stronger than us. It's at least half a second a lap. It's a lot."

However, Symonds, Renault's chief of engineering, claims it won't take long for his team to find the necessary pace and start putting the pressure on the Ferrari and McLaren drivers.

"I think we've got a few things in place and indeed in the last couple of weeks we've closed up on two of them at any rate," he told Autosport.

"Our expectations are good . It will be harder for us than it has been in the last couple of years, but we'll be there to fight."

Renault could also be assisted in their bid to retain their world titles by the downfall of Ferrari as Symonds believes the Scuderia won't be able to sustain their pre-season form throughout this year's 17-race championship.

"Go back 12 months and you could have said the same about Renault but it's never that easy," he added.

"Last two years, Renault have had a great start to the season but as the year has progressed, others have caught up and it will happen again with Ferrari."

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