Ricciardo: Little changes for 2020 ‘not where Renault wants to be’

Daniel Ricciardo says Renault will risk a “different philosophy” rather than little changes to significantly improve its performance in 2020.

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At the start of Renault’s current campaign, the French team – and Ricciardo – ambitioned to break clear of Formula 1’s midfield and edge closer to the sport’s front-runners.

But engine reliability issues early in the season and the stagnant development of its R.S.19 have left Renault short on results and trailing McLaren for fourth in the Constructors’ standings by 34 points with four rounds to go.

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With 2020 now in sight, Ricciardo insists that “small improvements” for next season just won’t cut it for Renault.

“It certainly needs something big enough,” Ricciardo told RACER’s Chris Medland.

“At times we’ve had a good car but it’s not the level where it could be and I think with the resources we have, it can be better.

“If we kind of just make some improvements on this year’s car it’s probably not going to be enough, so I’ll probably say you’ll expect a different car next year, a different philosophy.

“Maybe that’s riskier, but if we don’t risk anything maybe we improve a little bit on this year but ultimately that’s not where the team wants to be. So I guess there’s going to be a bit of change.”

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Ricciardo believes Renault’s understanding of its current car – so crucial to the design of next year’s contender – has considerably improved since the end of the summer break.

“I think we’ve got a pretty good understanding of what we need for next year, and just some target areas,” he said.

“So, I am definitely optimistic we can nail a few of those for the 2020 car.”

The shortfall endured by Renault this season has also been a relative loss for Ricciardo, whose best result year-to-date is a fourth-place finish at Monza. Yet the Aussie isn’t looking at the glass as half empty.

“I still don’t regret anything 12 months down the track,” he told Formula1.com.

“We are just going to stay above water for now and keep everyone‘s spirits high. I know that we will get there.

“I had… I don‘t want to say expectations, but scenarios in my head at the start of the year of how things would go,” he adds.

“Now I can assess where I am and try to understand what I can do better within myself – and with the team – to keep everything going.”