Abiteboul pushes to “do better, in all aspects” after Ricciardo’s 7th place

Renault has restarted its harvest of small points. Well, not completely. Of the two single-seaters entered in the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday April 14 in Shanghai, only the mount of Daniel Ricciardo saw the checkered flag in seventh place. Nico Hülkenberg had to retire.

The main team Cyril Abiteboul returns exclusively for CARhebdo on the half-fig, half-reason outcome of the French team. “Nico had a problem around the MGU-K. It's difficult because it means we're not fully out (from the lack of mechanical solidity. Editor’s note). It is a software problem which is linked to all the changes we have undertaken to react to the glitches at the start of the season, He explains.

Two weeks earlier, in Bahrain, the two Renaults had given up simultaneously due to mechanical damage. " It's always the same. When your back is against the wall, you have to react quickly, if possible well and precisely. On the software part, there was a problem linked to a particular behavior of the MGU-K. However, we think we can reuse this part, specifies Cyril Abiteboul.

For the last time today… Drivers in
Special #Race1000 we! #RSspirit #ChineseGP #RACEday pic.twitter.com/KTzW4E0hcJ

- Renault F1 Team (@RenaultF1Team) April 14th

Even if it means seeing a black and yellow car enter the pits, it might as well be the one that is close to the points. “Before his retirement, Nico had had a fairly difficult start. We may have lost a few points but it still wouldn't have been a very smooth race for him. »

Recruited last summer, Daniel Ricciardo ended up opening his points counter after three racess. “He did a great job, assures Cyril Abiteboul. We were sentenced to arrest. We managed to do it by managing the tires. We controlled the gap between him and Pérez lap after lap (RacingPoint). 

It's good for the team but it's a frustrating race. It allows us to forget Bahrain and start like in Melbourne (Australia, Nico Hülkenberg finished 7th). Now we have to do better, in all aspects », says the French boss. 

And to recall Renault's ambitions for 2019. “We are about 1″ away (from the rhythm of Mercedes), which is a little better than last year at the same race. This is a little above our objectives. We set ourselves a delay of +0″7 (per lap). We are a little slower than we would have liked. You have to work, not complain about it. It will take several years to reduce and eliminate the gap.."

Find the analysis of the Chinese GP carried out by our special correspondents in issue 2211 of AUTOhebdo, available Monday evening digitally and Wednesday on newsstands.