Renault under pressure to 'repay' Ricciardo

Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul says the team must "repay" Daniel Ricciardo's switch from Red Bull by delivering the Australian a car capable of winning races in 2019. Renault have not scored a podium since the works team returned to the grid in 2016, although they are well established as 2018's fourth-best team.

The French team improved from ninth to sixth across 2016 and 2017, with this year likely to take another step.

Third place could be up for grabs in 2019, with Red Bull incorporating a Honda power unit into their car, but Abiteboul says seven-time grand prix winner Ricciardo's arrival should raise Renault's sights even higher.

"His commitment proves our will to accelerate the catching-up process to the top teams," Abiteboul told Auto Motor und Sport.

"It is also a recognition of the work we have done over the past two and a half years.

"The talent and charisma of Daniel are a big bonus for the team. We have to repay his trust in us by providing him with the best possible car."

With Red Bull's Honda switch taking a Renault power unit out of the fight for race wins and titles, Abiteboul says the French team are determined to fill the space.

"I see positively that the separation is a clear signal to everyone in the team that we now have to do it ourselves," he added.

"Red Bull has shown us that you can win races with our engine if you build a good chassis. This is a challenge for the team in Enstone.

"The marriage with Red Bull was demanding and sometimes very exhausting for us. The negative thing is that Red Bull set a fantastic bar for us.

"The platform gave us the opportunity to compare our engine with the others. Unfortunately, we have not yet managed to win a constructors' championship with this engine."