Abiteboul: “We have exceeded 1 horses in the race for several Grands Prix”

It's been a long time since the Renault hadn't been so dashing in the race. By picking up points for fourth (with Daniel Ricciardo) and fifth places (with Nico Hülkenberg) in Italy, the Losange scored 22 points, the best overall result since the victory of Fernando Alonso in Fuji (Japan) in 2008. 

The Director of Renault Sport Racing, Cyril Abiteboul, highlights the enormous progress of the French engine, on the fastest circuit of the Monza season. “Daniel (Ricciardo) knows how much the engine department of Viruses-Châtillon (Essonne) has suffered since the introduction of this engine and we are now more than in the game.

Pizza power!@DanielRicciardo finished P4 at Monza as @ RenaultF1Team celebrated a double top-5 finish for the first time since 2008 #ItalianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/HpRxWuuR5G

— Formula 1 (@F1) September 8, 2019

When we see our level of performance in Montreal (fourth fastest time for Daniel Ricciardo in qualifying. Editor's note) at Spa, and at Monza, there can no longer be the slightest criticism on the subject. We remain open to criticism on the subject of reliability. This will be next year's meeting, already announces the Frenchman.

The work on the power of the V6 Turbo hybrid block was of unprecedented scale and duration. “In Viry, there has been a huge transformation, a virtuous circle dynamic which has been initiated with very talented people who join us almost every week at the moment. 

It's a dynamic that took time, we don't realize the effects of inertia that exist in our sport, continues Cyril Abiteboul. There is pressure for short-term results but the reality is that we started the reorganization of Viry in 2016, three years later we have an engine up to par. 

P5 today!
Well done @ RenaultF1Team ..
Now margherita margarita #F1 #ItalianGP

@kymillman pic.twitter.com/2GzXhDbiB5

— Nico Hulkenberg (@HulkHulkenberg) September 8, 2019

It now remains to correct the defects of the yellow and black chassis. “This is what we have to do now, I am fully aware of that. We would already like to be at that level but it will take a little more time because the inertia is a little longer on that side. »

But why did the Renaults come to the forefront at Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) and Monza? “The answer is power and drag. We have an engine that is powerful, I have no doubt about that. We have exceeded 1000 horses in the race for several Grands Prix. We know that some are doubtful, make jokes about it, even recognizes the boss.

I refer them to the curves, the measurements, the GPS data. This is the reality, the kilowatts, they are there. We cannot always use them as we would like because of the risks of using the engine. 

Checked flag

Daniel P4 / Nico P5
It's not a podium, but it's our best result and it's for you Anthoine. Of course it's for you.

#ItalianGP #RSspirit pic.twitter.com/Jhy13VvitU

- Renault F1 Team (@ RenaultF1Team) September 8, 2019

To be completely honest, we pushed a little this weekend, especially with Nico to defend on Albon. We may need to be a little more vigilant in the coming weeks. And then there's the drag. We have a car that is extremely strong in slow corners, it generates little drag. This allows us to have these kinds of results. »

In the Manufacturers' championship, Renault is back in the game for fourth place among the Manufacturers, 18 points behind McLaren. 

Discover the full report and analysis of the Italian Grand Prix, produced by our special correspondents in Monza, in issue 2233 of AUTOhebdo, available tomorrow evening in digital version, and from this Wednesday on newsstands.