F1 News
For Abiteboul there are no doubts: "He has brought plenty!"
- GPblog.com
After the Eifel Grand Prix there was enough reason for a party at Renault. A podium was finally achieved, which confirmed the team's progress for Cyril Abiteboul and shows why Daniel Ricciardo is so important to Renault.
It finally happened at the Nürburgring: Daniel Ricciardo took the podium for Renault for the first time as a factory team returning to Formula 1. As a result, Cyril Abiteboul has to get a tattoo, the design of which is determined by the Australian. However, the team boss can't beat his luck after the race.
"It's a milestone in the journey we've made as a team. We've been back as a factory team since 2016, we've been criticized for our dedication to the sport and our ability to grow in Formula 1 ever since. In the end we were able to get back on the podium, but we have to be honest, it was also made possible because Valtteri Bottas dropped out," said the Frenchman in the Post-Race Show of Formula 1.
"We know our car can't do that in a straight fight. But there is no doubt that we are making progress. I see that as a small boost in energy for the races ahead."
A valuable purchase for Renault
The arrival of Ricciardo was widely celebrated at Renault, but the Australian is already leaving for McLaren next year. Nevertheless, according to Abiteboul, the driver has been invaluable to the team. "The performance of Daniel Ricciardo in the last few races has been remarkable. His position in the championship is well deserved. We are in the middle of the mix with Racing Point and McLaren. It's good, it's some fun races coming up, but Ricciardo is also an excellent teammate. There were some doubts about what he would bring to the team, but he has brought a lot! "
The recent performance also gives Renault a good chance to finish third in the constructors' championship, behind Mercedes and Red Bull Racing. "The consistency in the last few races has been driven by reliability and the execution of our plans. Our competition is very close to it, sometimes there is some difference due to the characteristics of the track, but there is very little between us. We all have a car that is good enough for P3 in the championship. We also want to be the best in terms of the reliability of executing plans in the upcoming Grands Prix," Abiteboul concludes.