Abiteboul excited to do battle with "remarkable" Ricciardo in 2021

Renault team principal Cyril Abiteboul has stated he is looking forward to an "exciting battle" with McLaren-bound Daniel Ricciardo in 2021.

Ricciardo has raced with Renault for the past two years but, in the driver shuffle that occurred before the start of the delayed season, he announced he would be jumping ship to Mclaren next year.

Reflecting on the partnership with Ricciardo, Abiteboul said: "It has delivered positively and the irony in all of this is that I believe we are a much stronger team now and he will have to race a much stronger team next year.

"Obviously all of that we will be missing but we’re also glad to see him in a great team and we look forward to an exciting battle against McLaren and Daniel next year."

Ricciardo joined Renault after the team had finished fourth in the 2018 constructors' standings.

While the gaps to Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari were significant, the team took a step backwards during the first campaign of the partnership as it finished fifth and with 31 fewer points than in 2018.

Despite again finishing fifth this year, Renault's points haul of 181 has only been beaten twice in its history [albeit under a slightly different scoring system] when it won the constructors' championship in 2005 and 2006.

"I think there is no doubt about the progression of the team this year," added Abiteboul.

"It’s very much a credit to Daniel who’s been clearly leading the charge of the team and behind him a group of people and a group of mechanics and engineers who are doing a remarkable job on track."

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