In France, virtual imagery replaced physical presence as Renault debuted its R.S. 20 Challenger.
PARIS, France—February 12th—Despite being a strong car manufacturer, in 2019 the Renault F1 Team failed to live up to expectations. Fourth in 2018, the Anglo/French team finished fifth last year in the Constructor’s Championship.
Courtesy: RaceDepartment
And when the car company debuted its car for 2020, analysts and fans had to make do with images on a screen. On Tuesday, the R.S. 20 was introduced that way at the famous landmark, the L’altier Renault on the Champs-Elysse.
No car was present, but that didn’t matter to Team Manager Cyril Abiteboul, who made it very clear that the team aims to place fourth at the very lowest.
“Taking back the fourth position in the Constructor’s ‘Championship remains the objective in a season that will be more hotly-contested than ever,” he said. “2020 is also a pivotal year that marks the end of one cycle and the preparatory phase of another. This year must see us setting the best possible course for the major regulation changes of 2021. The organizational changes made in the second half of 2019 are with this firmly in mind.”
The disappointment of the previous model, the R.S. 19, was not the engine, but the chassis. It wasn’t close to the level of their McLaren rival, which took fourth place with a customer Renault engine. Pat Fry was drafted over the off-season to change that, but the car still might not be completely effective in the aerodynamic department for at least another year.
On the driving side, Daniel Ricciardo returns for his second (and final) year of his contract, Ricciardo is itching to do what he hasn’t done for a long time–pour champagne into a racing shoe and drink from it. “I am craving to take my shoe off, for sure. It has been a while,” joked Ricciardo. “I am optimistic, though, because I feel there’s a bit more stability in the structure.
Daniel Ricciardo: I put the responsibility on myself to get results and to have a presence in the team immediately. If everyone has their head down, I also feel some responsibility to bring it up. Last year I learned a lot, ways we can be better as a unit.
He feels the way to do that is to bond the squad a little more. “We have some ideas in mind to integrate the team, and not just on race weekends. We have to find ways away from the track to become more close as a unit,” Ricciardo explained.
“You get to know the person a little bit more. It’s a way to have each other’s back and support each other more. Some outdoor activities, we’re going to make a few people sweat as well.” Ricciardo explained.
The question for many is how well Ricciardo can cope with his new teammate, Frenchman Esteban Ocon, who took a year off to be a test driver for Mercedes.
By the same token, competition may be what Ricciardo might need. “He’s (Ocan) young. He missed out a year and that hunger is going to be there,” Ricciardo said. “It’s another person to gauge yourself (against), learn from. I think it’s a good dynamic.”
