Ricciardo: No fear for Renault over constructors’ position

Daniel Ricciardo says there is no fear within Renault over its position in the constructors’ championship amid pressure from Racing Point and Toro Rosso in the fight for P5 in the standings.

Renault entered the 2019 season hoping to build on its fourth-place finish last year and cut the gap to the leading trio of teams, only to take a step back into the midfield fight.

McLaren has emerged as the leading midfield team to sit fourth in the constructors’ championship, 38 points clear of Renault, who has been left defending fifth from Racing Point and Toro Rosso.

While Ricciardo said there was pressure on Renault to hold on to the position, the team remained confident of doing so.

“There is pressure for all of us to do it. I wouldn’t say that I feel the pressure, as far as there is not a fear within the team of losing these positions,” Ricciardo said.

“My personal championship position, I am not too bothered about. But as a team point of view, for sure. I’m confident we will do it.

“Circumstances you never know, but I am confident if we just execute the next few races we should be sweet. I will put pressure on myself to execute.

“It is good to keep us still focused on this year. The team has already started with next year, but that is independent of this year, and it is giving us something to keep us on our toes, which is good.”

Renault sat just nine points clear of both teams heading in last Sunday’s United States Grand Prix before doubling its advantage thanks to a double-points finish for Ricciardo (P6) and teammate Nico Hulkenberg (P9).

Additional reporting by Julianne Cerasoli.