Ricciardo expects Renault boost: 'Data to support that'

Daniel Ricciardo says there is "data to support" expectations that Renault will enjoy an upswing in performance in the coming races. The French marque have struggled to meet expectations of breaking away from the tightly contested midfield pack so far in 2019.

Renault have only scored points in three races so far this year, and dropped points in Monaco last time out as Ricciardo was stuck in a train of traffic and finished ninth, having ran fifth in the opening stages of the race.

An engine upgrade in Spain helped fix an issue which had seen Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg running at reduced power in the early rounds, with power expected to be opened up further in Canada this week.

It has been suggested that an aero upgrade at the French Grand Prix will help bolster Renault even further, which the Australian says is anticipated from within.

Ricciardo said: "There is some substance behind that, there is some data to support that and it should be the case in some aspects.

"But at the same time we don't want to get ahead of ourselves, like, after China qualifying seventh and eighth and saying 'this is it, this is where we are and we chip away from here'.

"It hasn't been that easy since then, but the reality is that this year it is tighter in that midfield to what Renault experienced last year.

"A lot of teams have stepped up, so I think we can start to not run with them but hopefully get ahead of them. The reality is that it is not going to be as easy as last year and it will take a bit of time. But I think it is showing a bit more direction now, which is positive."