Formula 1

Renault Looking to Build on Positive Austin Result in Mexico City – Abiteboul

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Nico Hülkenberg - Renault Sport Formula One Team - Circuit of the Americas
Credit: Octane Photographic Ltd

Cyril Abiteboul said the result of the United States Grand Prix was important moment in the season for the Renault Sport Formula One Team, particularly on the back of some difficult races since the summer break.

Nico Hülkenberg and Carlos Sainz Jr. had scored just ten points between them in the five races since the mid-season break but hit back superbly to score fourteen in one race at the Circuit of the Americas thanks to sixth and seventh place finishes respectively.

Team principal Abiteboul says there was not a lot of time to celebrate the result with the Mexican Grand Prix following this coming weekend, and the team will be working hard to maximise their result again at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

“We enter the Mexican Grand Prix on the back of a strong result in Austin with both cars not only well inside the top ten, but placing 1-2 behind the leading teams, a result already obtained in Montréal earlier this season,” said Abiteboul.

“After an admittedly tough few races, this result arrived at an important moment in our season, not only for the 14-point gain on our closest rivals, but also for the demonstration of the genuine potential of our “race team-car-drivers” combination.

“That said, there’s little time to become too fixated on this result in Austin, as we immediately head to Mexico City for the next race. We will be working towards our usual performance expectations of a solid qualifying to put us in a strong position to achieve a good race.”

Abiteboul knows there is still work to be done across the remaining three races if they are to guarantee themselves fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship, even though the primary focus of the team has switched to the design and development of the 2019 R.S.19.

“There’s yet a long way to go until reaching the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi and a lot of work to do,” said Abiteboul, who will lose Sainz to the McLaren F1 Team but acquire Daniel Ricciardo from Aston Martin Red Bull Racing in 2019.

“We are well aware our rivals will be giving it everything, and as our factories are fully turned towards 2019, our race team and our drivers will be doing just the same to ensure we’re in the best possible position for Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi to defend our position in the Constructors’ Championship.”

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