Ricciardo deal has 'fired up' Renault

Daniel Ricciardo's impending arrival at Renault has "fired up" the team according to technical director Nick Chester. Ricciardo has taken the plunge with Renault, signing a two-year deal from 2019, backing the French team to deliver over Red Bull's union with Honda.

Ricciardo's announcement that he would join Renault next year sent shockwaves through Formula 1's mid-season break, causing ramifications for other drivers such as Esteban Ocon, who may miss out on a seat altogether in 2019.

Red Bull had grown frustrated with a lack of power and reliability from Renault in recent years, but Ricciardo says he has been convinced that things will be better at the works team, and is targeting race wins in 2020.

Renault have made steady progress since re-entering F1 in 2016 and are in position to take fourth place in the constructors' standings, but Chester says the team are inspired to deliver even better for Ricciardo.

"I think it's always the right time, if it makes you quicker. If that's a better driver, that's great," Chester is quoted by ESPN.

"It pushed the team on. It will help with development. I think it is right.

"It also shows that commitment; it's a big deal to show to everybody that Renault believe in us enough to get a top-line driver. So we need to go on and do the rest of it.

"It certainly focused the mind. You know you have to make a very good car for him, but everyone is fired up - we know if we give him the right equipment, he'll deliver with it.

"So it's very positive. We know we've got a very strong driver pairing to work with next year."

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