Sirotkin hopes for “a big leap forward”

Are you happy to come back Renault ?

It’s actually nice. I have an excellent relationship with the team. I have very good memories of 2017. Afterwards, it's not the role I dream of because I would have liked to be in the car during the race. This will not be the case this season. Let’s say it’s a small step backwards for, I hope, a big leap forward. I prefer to see the positive and plan for the long term.

What will your job actually consist of?

I will be present in immersion within the team at most of the Grands Prix. I will do simulator sessions and development work. We haven't finalized all the details yet. I hope I will have the opportunity to ride, but the decision is not up to me (the Russian should take part in the Pirelli tests. Editor's note). I am returning to the team after experience as a starter, so my technical feedback is more developed.

A word about your old team Williams, whose start to the season was trying?

I'm sad for Williams. I only lived with them for one season, but I was there so often that I feel like I spent a quarter of my life there. We went through a really tough situation but we stuck together like never before and worked hard all the time. I put a lot of work into developing this season's car, so it pains me to see that the expected result did not come about because of the difficulties the team is going through.