Abiteboul reveals key role of Sainz in Renault’s late surge

Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul says the energy and knowledge Carlos Sainz Jr applied during his late season switch to the French manufacturer was vital in its surge at the end of the season to take sixth place off his former squad Toro Rosso.

Renault secured a deal with Red Bull to take Sainz for the final four races of the 2017 Formula 1 world championship with the Spanish driver staying put for next season on a one-year loan. Sainz scored points on his debut for Renault with seventh place at the United States Grand Prix before being thwarted by engine issues and a pit stop blunder to suffer two DNFs in Mexico and Abu Dhabi.

Abiteboul has relished welcoming Sainz to the team, in a deal which saw Jolyon Palmer leave Renault, and was immediately impressed by the Spaniard’s attitude at his new team. According to the Renault chief, Sainz provided “useful direction” for development into 2018 and was surprised by his independent application having been previously kept in the Toro Rosso confines after graduating as a Red Bull junior.

“He’s clearly brought lots of energy, motivation and willingness to continue to progress and to continue to show what he’s capable of outside of the sort of Red Bull environment,” Abiteboul said. “Which is a very good environment but sometimes also a strong environment for a driver to cope with. So he’s done that, he’s also scored some points.

“He’s shown some very useful directions for the development for next year, because he’s coming from a different environment. He was capable of bringing some ideas, suggestions. He’s got a very good understanding of the mechanics of the car, the fundamental of the car and it’s coming at a time when things were not complete for next year so that’s very useful and we are happy to have made that decision.”

Sainz’s Renault team-mate Nico Hulkenberg scored a vital sixth place in the 2017 season finale to see the French manufacturer leapfrog Toro Rosso for sixth place in the F1 World Constructors’ championship. The late surge ensures Renault receives millions more in prize money to aid its developments into 2018. The French manufacturer holds a long-term goal of returning to a title-contending squad similar to its heyday in 2005 and 2006 when it sealed F1 world titles with Fernando Alonso.