Ricciardo offers Renault a new podium: “I didn’t want to come into the pits”

3 is the favorite number of Renault in 2020. This is the race number of Daniel Ricciardo, but since the arrival of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix this Sunday, November 1 in Imola (Italy), it is also the position of the Losange in the Manufacturers' classification, one point ahead McLaren and RacingPoint.

A rank obtained thanks to… Daniel Ricciardo's third position. Qualified fifth, he was able to overtake Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri) initially, then take advantage of the abandonment of Max Verstappen (Red Bull) to climb on the box.

We like this feeling #RSspirit #ImolaGP pic.twitter.com/AKFjLzMyFT

- Renault F1 Team (@RenaultF1Team) November 1, 2020

“It was a weird race. I thought, after the start, fourth place was the best result we could hope for. I had a very good pace in the race, the pit stop went ideally.

Daniel Ricciardo did not observe a pit stop when the Safety Car entered, unlike Sergio Pérez (Racing Point), virtually on the podium before his team called him to change tires.

“I didn't want to pit, because it's so difficult to overtake at Imola, he told Canal+. I was waiting for the team's proposal, but I explained that I was fine with my tires. So they left me behind.

If the Australian was able to resist the Russian's attacks, despite being equipped with newer and softer tyres, it is partly thanks to a fast track (70% of the lap foot to the floor) and a lack of opportunities for overtaking.

“At the end of the Safety Car phase, I saw (Daniil) Kvyat comes back out of nowhere in the final rounds. Two podiums in three races (after the one acquired at the Nürburgring) It’s very fun! », commented the future McLaren driver in 2021.

The question that all French people ask themselves concerns Cyril Abiteboul. The boss of the Jaunes-et-Noirs had agreed on a tattoo in the event of his drivers' podium in 2020; is he planning a second one?

" Oh no, contradicts Daniel Ricciardo. He congratulated me on the radio but immediately added that he won't make another one! Maybe another member will agree to get a tattoo. »

On the other side of the Renault garage, Esteban Ocon was less happy. The Frenchman did not see the finish after a gearbox problem, while he was aiming for an entry into the top 10. “We had several problems: a tear-off in a brake duct, then a clutch sensor problem. Finally, we think the transmission broke. It’s a difficult weekend marked by a succession of bad luck”, said the Norman.