Nick Heidfeld reckons Lotus Renault GP could be crowned World Champs in the future but admits Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull have the upper hand.
Renault have proven in the past that they can win World titles with Fernando Alonso clinched the Drivers' Championship in 2005 and again in 2006.
The team also claimed the Constructors' trophy in both seasons.
But since then the team's performances have slumped. They finished third in 2007, fourth a year later, eighth in 2009 and last season rebounded to fifth.
However, Heidfeld reckons Lotus Renault GP can win another title.
"That's very difficult to answer, because anything can happen in F1," he told Auto Moto und Sport.
"Who would have committed five years ago to saying that Red Bull would be World Champions.
"For my team, we know that they are already double World Champions. It is not entirely out of thin air to believe in this team.
"But in purely statistical terms, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull have the better chance."
