Renault Racing is looking to improve this weekend’s at French Grand Prix in Paul Ricard Circuit. For the French manufacturer, the Sunday’s race is the rendezvous of the year that should not be missed, even if the season is played on 21 races.
The 2019 season will also mark the 40th anniversary of Renault’s first Formula 1 victory at the 1979 French GP. This event has returned to the schedule of the queen of motorsport discipline last year after nine years of absence.
Speaking to media, Renault Sport Racing Communication Director Louis Bordes said they do not hide that they played a role in the return of F1 in France.
“We are a historic French brand, it’ s been over 100 years that we do motorsport, the Grand Prix de France for a French brand is a must in the season,” Bordes said.
“We were solicited, we participated, we supported the project, Renault pushed for the return of a national Grand Prix because it remains strategic,” Bordes added.
Renault, however, has a difficult start this year and only sits fifth in the constructors’ ranking, just behind McLaren that Renault motorizes. It was not until the last GP in Canada that the two cars entered the points together with a sixth place finish for Daniel Ricciardo, the best result in seven races so far played, and a seventh place for Nico Hulkenberg.
Renault boss, Cyril Abiteboul said he wanted to see his cars now finish regularly at least at seventh and eighth place, behind Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull currently dominating the stage. The bet has been filled in Canada but will have to be completed on Sunday.
The organizers of the Grand Prix also rely on Renault to make tremble the patriotic fiber of the public if two French drivers Pierre Gasly and Romain Grosjean are currently in F1 are able to produce good numbers for selling tickets.
