Managing Director of Renault Sport Formula 1 Team, Cyril Abiteboul is keen to take valuable lessons away from the 2017 Australian Grand Prix in order to help them to progress throughout the rest of the season.
“This first Grand Prix of the season under these new regulations has delivered several lessons,” commented Abiteboul. “Our race result highlights that we were not as well prepared as our opposition and our lack of mileage and preparation, both during pre-season testing and during this weekend, meant we suffered today.”
The two Renault drivers, Nico Hulkenberg and Jolyon Palmer had a mediocre race, with Hulkenberg finishing just outside the points in eleventh, and Palmer suffering an early retirement after a promising charge from the back of the grid.
Abiteboul is positive that the Renault has taken a step forwards from its poor performance of last year, and is happy that the car seemed to be fighting in the midfield.
“Although there were very few laps of clean air to demonstrate it, we feel that our car engine-driver combination allows us to be in the group that we were targeting to race against.”
“At every race, we should be in a position to fight for Q3 on Saturday and to fight for points on the Sunday.”
