Ricciardo: Renault can still beat McLaren

Daniel Ricciardo has not given up hope of Renault securing fourth place in the constructors' championship ahead of McLaren.

McLaren have a 33-point lead over Renault with five races remaining this season, having secured a double points finish in Russia last tie out, while Nico Hulkenberg secured a solitary point for Renault after Ricciardo retired following a first-lap collision.

Renault had closed the gap to 18 points with a fourth-fifth finish in Monza, and Ricciardo believes a similar swing is not out of the question before the season is over.

But Ricciardo says it will not be an easy task against a car which seems more capable of using the Renault engine's power through the corners than that of the works team.

"We can finish fourth, Monza showed one weekend that it can really change," Ricciardo said.

"But we need to get both cars in the points. For sure, they're still the favourite, but we could be alright.

"I still think they are very good to run high downforce but have low drag. It seems they can high downforce but still have good straight-line speed.

"Some of it feels like they have a medium drag setting but with high downforce. So they're efficient there. I'd still like to say probably kerbing, the suspension, they seem they can attack the kerbs a bit more.

"So I guess a track like Singapore is where they're strong. Even being behind the car a little bit and seeing parts on the track."

Renault finished fourth last season with a tally of 122 points, securing sixth place in the USA, Mexico and Abu Dhabi – all of which remain this year – to aid their cause.

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