Ricciardo: Renault need to lift spirits in 2020

Daniel Ricciardo wants to lead a greater bond throughout the team at Renault in 2020.

Both driver and constructor endured a frustrating 2019 as Renault followed up the blockbuster signing of Ricciardo from Red Bull by falling short of a pre-season target to close the gap to F1's top three teams.

Indeed, Renault dropped a place in the constructors' standings, finishing fifth behind a resurgent McLaren and dominant trio Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes.

Ricciardo will have a new teammate to contend with in 2020 as Esteban Ocon joins the team in Nico Hulkenberg's place and the Australian wants to lift the mood before on-track action resumes.

"For next year I've got some ideas of things I can do more or better," Ricciardo said. "I feel like I integrated myself into the team well this year, but I look back and am like I can do more.

"I want to have a bit more presence before the season starts, before testing, but also have some ideas which of things we can do together as a team to get us into the season.

"Not just technically, but as a team unit I want to get to Barcelona feeling like we got some momentum before the season even starts.

"Even some team morale stuff, call it team building and some activities, more importantly to spend time with the team, even away from the track.

"At the track even like with Cyril sometimes it is 'hi' and that is all you get over the weekend because we are busy. So you don't always get good quality time at the circuit.

"I feel that to take this relationship to the next level, getting time away from the track is good. Just having that feeling, even for the guys, if they know each other a bit more, they will want to work a little bit harder for each other and make some good stuff happen."

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