Renault hope Ricciardo can have Hamilton-Mercedes impact

Renault chief Cyril Abiteboul hopes that the signing of Daniel Ricciardo can spark a period of success similar to that enjoyed by Mercedes after the signing of Lewis Hamilton. Ricciardo's shock move from Red Bull to Renault has hallmarks similar to Hamilton's to Mercedes from McLaren in 2013.

Mercedes had shown little sign of becoming Formula 1's dominant force when Hamilton agreed to leave McLaren at the end of 2012, but the Silver Arrows have swept title honours for the last four years and once again sit atop both the constructors' and drivers' standings at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Renault have made steady improvements since returning to F1 as a works team in 2016 and look set to seal fourth place in this season's team championship.

And Abiteboul is confident that Renault have plenty more progress to make, which could elevate Ricciardo into the same record-breaking echelons of Hamilton.

READ MORE: Verstappen snipes at Ricciardo's Renault move
READ MORE: Renault hint Ricciardo didn't trust Honda

"I genuinely believe there was a good reason for him and for us for that happening now and this point in his and our journey," Abiteboul told Sky Sports. "But it's not something we are taking lightly. We know this is a big decision.

"I think he has in mind some good examples in the past. Lewis Hamilton, everyone is obviously trying to draw some comparison.

"I hope and believe there will be that comparison and the next reference will be Renault and Daniel in the future in the history books."

Ricciardo and Abiteboul have been clear that race wins in 2019 are unlikely, but the Australian is confident that the longer-term prospects are positive for the French team.

He said: "I think what they've done in the last two years, the progress they've made, it encouraged me and developments they're making at the factory, what they're doing with their finances, where they're spending basically, and the way they're doing it, showed me that they want to win and they want to try to get there as soon as possible.

"Obviously, every team wants to win, or try to make it happen - but I saw some really good signs with what they showed me in their presentation and the way they… also their honesty as well.

"Not telling me we're going to win in Melbourne next year - as much as I'd like that - but the reality of that, it's still going to be a bit of a process but a process which is moving forwards pretty rapidly."