Share this article on LinkedIn Email

Renault team boss Eric Boullier says Nick Heidfeld needs to raise his game following a series of disappointing races this season.

Although the German started the season strongly with a podium in the second race of the year, he has struggled to match the pace of team-mate Vitaly Petrov in qualifying, something that has hindered his chances of better results on Sunday.

Boullier reckons Heidfeld's season has not been "good enough" and believes the German has to improve to be able to match Petrov's pace right from the start of the GP weekends.

"I don't know," Boullier told AUTOSPORT when asked what Heidfeld needed to do. "I need to sit down with him and understand his concerns and to have a fair understanding of the situation.

"It needs to be from practice one to be at least on Vitaly's pace and it looks like there is always a delay, and qualifying if you are not ready car wise, balance wise and confidence wise then you cannot deliver on one single lap."

When asked to rate Heidfeld's season so far, he said: "Let's say good, but not good enough.

"Sunday is okay. Sunday's pace is good, it is very good, but obviously the higher we qualify on the grid, the better the chance we have to score more points."

Boullier also conceded the team's qualifying form is a concern after failing to get any cars into Q3 in Monaco.

"If you are first and third on the grid, that is not a worry. But if you are 11th and 16th then that starts to be a worry."