Ricciardo returns to action as Renault begins F1 test in Austria
Daniel Ricciardo kicked off Renault's two-day test at the Red Bull Ring as the team steps up its preparations for Formula 1’s season-opener in Austria next month.
Ricciardo completed 115 laps of the Spielberg venue driving a two-year-old 2018-spec RS18 on Tuesday, with his new Renault teammate Esteban Ocon set to takeover running on Wednesday.
The French manufacturer is the latest team to have conducted some track testing prior to the start of the upcoming campaign, following a similar test carried out by Mercedes last week.
Daniel Ricciardo kicked off Renault's two-day test at the Red Bull Ring as the team steps up its preparations for Formula 1’s season-opener in Austria next month.
Ricciardo completed 115 laps of the Spielberg venue driving a two-year-old 2018-spec RS18 on Tuesday, with his new Renault teammate Esteban Ocon set to takeover running on Wednesday.
The French manufacturer is the latest team to have conducted some track testing prior to the start of the upcoming campaign, following a similar test carried out by Mercedes last week.
Mercedes was the first F1 team to return to track action when it undertook a two-day private test at Silverstone, marking the first time since the end of pre-season testing in Barcelona in February that F1 machinery has run in anger amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
By opting to use its 2018 challenger, Renault can conduct as much mileage as it desires, with two-year-old cars not bound to F1’s tight restrictions on running current machinery outside of the official test sessions.
The test will also provide Renault with the opportunity to familiarise itself with F1’s strict new hygiene protocols and social distancing measures ahead of the season resumption.
By selecting the Red Bull Ring as its venue of choice, Renault will have a unique chance to get up to speed with the new procedures at the same track that will host the season-opener on July 5.
It will also hand the drivers some extra insight into the track characteristics two weeks before the paddock depends on Austria for back-to-back races which will be staged behind closed doors.
He's back.
— Renault F1 Team (@RenaultF1Team) June 16, 2020
R.S.18
Red Bull Ring
500km
115 laps#RSspirit @DanielRicciardo pic.twitter.com/mZREmbRAnW
Renault has not been able to test in either the UK or France due to both countries enforcing a 14-day mandatory quarantine on international arrivals, making Austria the most obvious choice.
AlphaTauri will also visit the Red Bull Ring later this month for a filmimg day, while Racing Point will commence a shake down of its 2020 RP20 F1 car at Silverstone on Wednesday.
Ferrari is also expected to undertake a test before the season begins, though a date or location is yet to be confirmed.
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