Renault's Canada performance shows F1 needs change - Brawn

Formula 1 motorsport director Ross Brawn says Renault's performance at the Canadian Grand Prix shows that vast changes are needed when the sport introduces new regulations in 2021. Daniel Ricciardo qualified fourth in Montreal, but still finished a lap down come the chequered flag.

Ricciardo finished sixth at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, with team-mate Nico Hulkenberg following him home in seventh.

Renault's first double points finish of the season shows strong progress from a team looking to nail down fourth place in the constructors' championship.

But Brawn pointed to the ever-widening gap between fourth and the top three as proof that the 2021 regulations need to see significant change.

"On Sunday they had two drivers in the points," Brawn said.

"After a tough time, it seems there is light at the end of the tunnel for the French marque, although there is still a significant gap in performance terms to the top three teams.

"Ricciardo eventually finished in sixth place, with Hulkenberg seventh, but they were both lapped.

"Formula 1 needs the teams to be more closely matched – something we are working on as we head into the final stages of producing regulations for 2021 and beyond – but in the meantime it's great to see that a prestigious manufacturer squad such as Renault is beginning to see some reward for all its effort.

"Ricciardo's fourth place in qualifying is definitely a good sign, and a good race performance from the Australian – in which he treated us to a great but all too brief battle with Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas – and from his German team mate are evidence that Renault may be bouncing back.

"We now head to the team's home race at Paul Ricard, which will surely give them even more motivation."

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