Renault expect Daniel Ricciardo to “play a key role” in further F1 progress in 2019

Matt Jones - Editor 14:51 24/11/2018
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  • Ambitious Renault hope to edge closer to the big three in Formula One next season and team head Cyril Abiteboul expects Daniel Ricciardo to “play a key role in that”.

    Ricciardo announced in August he would leave Red Bull after almost a decade with the British-based team following a season littered with disappointment.

    The popular Australian was all smiles after winning two of the opening six races this campaign as he and team-mate Max Verstappen looked to help the team close the gap to Mercedes and Ferrari.

    Ricciardo has not made the podium since triumphing in Monaco in May though and is actually the most-retired driver on the grid this term, with eight retirements.

    And Abiteboul is excited about the possibility that improved performances can be built on with Ricciardo reeled in on a two-year deal.

    “It’s a bit early to exactly mention or disclose our exact target for next year because first we would like to finish this season in the best possible way,” said Abiteboul ahead of Sunday’s final race of the season at Yas Marina Circuit.

    “But obviously we need to keep on progressing: P9, P6, P4 in the championship in two years, in three years so we would like to see that progression continuing.

    “We know that obviously the further you go the bigger the steps and the more demanding they will be.

    “We would like to see, for instance, bridging the gap closer to the top teams in qualifying, in races, not being lapped, in terms of points scoring, so this is the type of target that we will announce at the start of next season.

    “But you need to expect from us that we keep on progressing and completing the construction of the team and we expect Daniel to play a key role in that, just like he played a key role in Red Bull’s drive, in our opinion, on track but also off-track because we also feel that we need someone to embody that charge.

    “Nico’s (Hulkenburg, the German is seventh, behind Ricciardo, in the drivers’ standings) doing extremely well as a driver so I also look forward to that line-up to really properly represent the efforts and the ambitions of Renault in that new cycle.”

    Ricciardo reverting from Red Bull to Renault is one of a myriad of chair-swapping being done among F1 drivers for next season.

    Of the 10 teams confirmed for 2019, only constructors’ champions Mercedes and Haas will maintain the same duo – world champion Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes and Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen at Haas.

    Ricciardo removing himself from Red Bull though is one of the biggest eyebrow-raisers – the Aussie has been with the team for nearly 10 years (five with Red Bull and four as a recognised F1 driver or test driver with affiliate Toro Rosso).

    As Red Bull team principal Christian Horner puts it, Ricciardo has “grown up with Red Bull”, with the Perth native having won seven times – his career total – with the Austrian-owned team.

    Pierre Gasly will take Ricciardo's seat at Red Bull next season.

    Pierre Gasly will take Ricciardo’s seat at Red Bull next season.

    “With Daniel, he’s been with us for 100 races, won seven of them,” said Horner.

    “All his seven victories, all the points he scored in Formula 1, have come in Red Bull cars.

    “He’s grown up with Red Bull. He was an unknown kid from Australia who arrived in Europe when Red Bull first picked him up, taking him through the junior formulas, into Formula 1 through Toro Rosso and into Red Bull Racing.

    “It’s been great to see his development, his growth, and he’s been a big part of our team for the past five seasons.

    “Hopefully we can give him a good sign-off in his final grand prix this weekend and wish him obviously the very best of luck for the future. But again, as one chapter closes another opens, with Pierre Gasly.”

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