384230304313aff95681dc9c10c69f0e8329f7e5

Abiteboul: Ricciardo arrival adds obligation for Renault to succeed

18:45, 27 Aug 2018

byJake Williams-Smith

Renault team boss Cyril Abiteboul has admitted that the signing of Daniel Ricciardo carries additional pressure for the team to succeed. The Renault team has slowly improved since returning to Formula One full time as a team rather than engine supplier, but that progress would need to improve with the Australian signing with them.

Whilst the signing of Ricciardo was a massive coup for Renault, they will now have to back it up with a strong car and package for the partnership to lead to any sort of fruition, and catching the top three teams will be no easy feat.

Speaking to Crash.net, Abiteboul said that the signing of Ricciardo elevated expectations at Renault and that the need for improvement in the near future was now a necessity.

"It was a surprise, it was a relief. But at the same time, I could also feel the weight of what it meant for us, for the team, because I feel that we are obliged now to him.

"We had an obligation before to perform and continue the progression, but we have a further obligation not to hurt someone who is one of the most charismatic drivers in the paddock."

Although currently the aims of podium finishes for the team would be out of the question, next season the team will be targetting just that with their stronger line-up now requiring the results.

"I think everyone wants him to be in a position to be in a good car, a good team, fight for wins, fight for podiums first.

"Now we have that obligation, not in two or three years’ time, but we have that obligation now towards him.

"I could also feel the weight of that obligation on us. But I can accept that anyway. We are not here to make up the figures, we are here also to perform and do these type of results."