Giancarlo Fisichella is convinced Renault is closing the gap on McLaren and Italian team Ferrari.

Despite an all-Renault third row in the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours on Sunday, the reigning constructors' champions came away with just three points from Fisichella's sixth place.

Team-mate Heikki Kovalainen's race was ruined by a first-corner incident with the Toyota of Jarno Trulli, with the Finn coming home 15th at the end of the 70 laps.

The result led to Renault losing ground in their fight with BMW Sauber for third in the constructors' standings at present, with McLaren and Ferrari duelling at the top.

Despite that, Fisichella can see the improvements the team has made since the start of the season when it was struggling.

"Certainly we would have preferred to gain ground on our rivals, rather than lose six points," remarked Fisichella on the battle with BMW Sauber.

"Having said that, there are more positives than negatives to take from the weekend."

"Firstly from qualifying. We got into the top 10 quite easily and then were able to make it an all-Renault third row."

"That is so much stronger than where we were even two months ago."

"It shows how much hard work is being done back at the factories, and that we are on the right track."

"Then in the race I was able to keep (Fernando) Alonso behind me quite comfortably in the final stint."

"For me, it shows the gap to the teams in front is coming down, slowly but surely."

Fisichella is looking to make further inroads in this weekend's British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

"We have shown in the last few races we are closing the gap, and we are in the fight," insisted Fisichella.

"When you are in a situation like that you want to be racing every weekend, to try and make that little bit more progress."

"Our fight will be with BMW again, and the target has to be to finish ahead of them."

"I finished fourth in the last two years there, so if we could repeat that result it would be a great performance for us."

Sportal