Daniel Ricciardo: Renault now has a "complete" F1 car

Daniel Ricciardo believes Renault now has a Formula 1 car capable of fighting at all types of circuits after qualifying well inside the top ten once again for the Eifel Grand Prix at the Nurburgring.

Ricciardo will start Sunday’s race in Germany from sixth on the grid after narrowly edging out Renault teammate Esteban Ocon in seventh.

Since the Belgian Grand Prix, Renault has enjoyed a strong upturn of performance which it has maintained across a variety of different circuits.

The Australian now believes Renault has the car capable of toppling McLaren and Racing Point for third place in the constructors’ championship.

“Yes, that is where last year it was as a team quite frustrating for us,” Ricciardo said. Because we would have the odd good result but we really lacked the consistency that we have shown this year. That is been really positive, not only on Saturday but also Sunday and now on all types of circuits. It is good, I would say the car is now a complete car.

“It is not still as quick as a Mercedes but for that midfield fight we really feel like we have the car that can fight now until the end.”

Teammate Ocon concurred with Ricciardo and says it gives the team “great confidence” going into the remaining races of 2020.

“It is definitely giving us great confidence because as you know we have been struggling in Barcelona and Budapest on those high downforce settings, and we are back on those for here, and the car has been feeling great and feeling strong, so that is all behind us now,” Ocon added.

“I’m not saying if we go back to Barcelona that we would qualify sixth and seventh, but it is giving us great hope and great confidence to continue the season like that.”