Abiteboul: “We are progressing in our understanding of the problems”

Team Renault recorded a double points finish at the end of the 2019 British Grand Prix, with seventh place in Daniel Ricciardo and the 10th rank of Nico Hulkenberg. This overall result has nothing to do with Austria, where the two black and yellow cars finished outside the top 10, but all is not rosy (or yellow) if we are to believe Cyril Abiteboul.

The general director of Renault Sport Racing spoke exclusively to AUTOhebdo on the British meeting. “We still have to be happy with both cars in the points and a seventh place. We had what it took to be in front of the McLaren and score more points than them. This is a reason for satisfaction in itself, explains the Frenchman. Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo notably put up a good fight at the start of the effort:

Norris and Ricciardo, wheel-to-wheel

Gripping action through Copse then Maggots#BritishGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/vzk42ASCGf

— Formula 1 (@F1) July 14, 2019

What is less positive, however, is the timing of the arrival of the Safety Car to clear theAlfa Romeo by Antonio Giovinazzi. “It benefited Carlos enormously (Sainz Jr). This is not the first time this season and it allows him to score very big points. Well, McLaren has one point more than us today. Clearly, it's going to be a competition with them all season. 

We would have liked and could have reduced the gap with them so obviously it’s a little disappointment. The second disappointment is Nico’s race (Hulkenberg) who had a complicated afternoon (touchdown with Sergio Pérez in particular, Editor’s note). It could have been simpler. He had a small sensor problem which caused us to overreact at the motor level, which is working very well.."

Cyril Abiteboul also points out the changes made to the car between Red Bull Ring and Silverstone. These modifications brought a breath of fresh air to the team, which has not forgotten its difficulties. “The car isn’t really any different. The engine is not fundamentally different and the drivers are obviously the same. We are progressing in our understanding of the problems and the best settings to adopt. 

We must expect that the performance of the R.S.19 will be up and down. It will depend on the characteristics of the circuits. We knew we would be a little better than in Austria. Maybe not as good as that. We expect to have difficult races, others much better, he tempers.

“Overall we can be happy with today’s result with both cars in the top ten. »
Find our report on #BritishGP.
https://t.co/hHY28REyd6#RSspirit pic.twitter.com/r0cPJzH8pj

- Renault F1 Team (@ RenaultF1Team) July 14, 2019

What's needed now that the problems are perfectly identified, we must concentrate on providing solutions. There is a big remobilization, big expectations. There are solutions that will arrive but it will take a little time but these are quite structural weaknesses. It is not by changing a small element on the fin that the behavior will be transformed.”, recognizes the boss.

The Renault R.S.19 still suffers from shortcomings in certain types of curves. “The structural problems manifest themselves in the somewhat long corners negotiated at medium speed, around 200 km/h. At Silverstone, it’s typically the Brooklands-Luffield sequence. We waste almost all our time in this type of turn. We understand well what is happening in terms of structure and dynamics of the vehicle, now once again, it will take time to find solutions. »

In the Manufacturers' standings, Renault is in sixth place with 39 points, 21 behind its McLaren cousins, also equipped with diamond blocks.

Discover the analysis of the British GP carried out by our special correspondents in issue 2225 of AUTOhebdo, available from Monday evening in digital version on all platforms, and from this Wednesday on newsstands.