Renault Sport F1 approaches Monza with renewed confidence
While the Belgian Grand Prix in F1 wasn't supposed to favor Renault, Daniel Ricciardo nevertheless won it in his Red Bull last Sunday. The French engine manufacturer acknowledges having benefited from the race circumstances; but this victory also validates the recent progress from a closer collaboration with Red Bull. This brings additional optimism heading into the Monza race...
Before arriving at Spa-Francorchamps, a circuit that, with its long straights, was expected to be challenging for a power unit struggling on straights, Renault certainly did not expect to triumph. But by taking advantage of the collision between the Mercedes cars, Daniel Ricciardo’s Red Bull claimed victory.
As Head of Track Operations at Renault F1, Rémi Taffin can therefore congratulate himself after a victory as convincing as it was unexpected: “We approached the weekend with measured hopes, knowing that we would need a bit of luck. But we took the best possible advantage of the conditions [of the race]. A victory on a power circuit, where we expected to struggle, shows that we never give up and that we never abandoned our mentality at Renault Sport F1. It also shows how the criticism simply pushed us to work harder and more intelligently.”
Daniel Ricciardo certainly benefited from the internal war between the Mercedes, but he was also able to keep Valtteri Bottas’ Williams and even Nico Rosberg at bay towards the end of the race. Beyond luck, Rémi Taffin wants to see in this success the first fruits of the deeper collaboration between Red Bull and Renault: « For a few months now, we have been working even more closely with Red Bull, and [Sunday] was an example of a well-optimized chassis-engine package. This clear and more rational direction is starting to bear fruit ».
The next Grand Prix will be held in Monza, on the fastest circuit of the season, inevitably unfavorable to the characteristics of the French Power Unit. But for Rémi Taffin, the example of Spa provides reason for hope: « Reliability is very clearly the key now, with improvements to the package wherever we can. F1 requires hard work, but also luck, and we had it [last Sunday]. We will now arrive in Monza with this renewed confidence. »
Renault could soon turn Red Bull into a true factory team. Allied with the ongoing disputes at Mercedes, this undeniable progress could give the end of the season a more unexpected twist than anticipated.
