bill shoe wrote: ↑04 Jul 2019, 06:11
I don't think there is any mystery or problem with Renault's performance, even given their decent budget.
Given the quotes below, it's apperent that Renault don't quite understand their car and/or that they have a fundamental problem because it's not responding to setup-changes in the way it should. I think it's fair to say they are a bit mystified at the moment.
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ricc ... a/4486558/
"I really hope we're going to find something this week, because it felt like - for example, Le Castellet was a lot windier yet I didn't really feel affected by the wind, where even today the car felt like there was massive turbulence during the race, in terms of the way it was handling, and the high-speed was very light.
"So I feel something still wasn't quite right on the car this weekend, what that is though we still don't know, but I'd like to believe we're going to find something, because right now it doesn't add up.
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ricc ... m/4485576/
"We made quite a few changes and then we found out that we had a few set-up issues on the car after third practice," said Ricciardo. "So we made them right for qualifying but that didn't seem to give it that much more.
"We've been struggling this weekend and we never really looked like a Q3 car. I feel like maybe there's something more fundamental with the car that we haven't quite got on top of yet because we've changed a lot and kind of always ended up with the same outcome."
Ricciardo said he had struggled at low speed, locking the front brakes and suffering "a lack of feeling in the front of the corner".
After making a breakthrough in low-speed corners in recent races Ricciardo felt like Renault was "back in that difficult area" he struggled with at the start of the season.
"We changed a few things to try and address it but it didn't really help so that's why I'm a little bit suspicious or curious that we're missing on the car," Ricciardo said.
"Obviously the guys checked the set-up and everything but it didn't really feel like it was adapting much to changes. I would say the characteristics have been slightly different so far this weekend so it's a tough one to know right now."
bill shoe wrote: ↑04 Jul 2019, 06:11
... McLaren appears set to beat Renault in the upper midfield, leaving Renault to pick up 5th constructors. So yes they could arguably be slightly stronger relative to McLaren, but otherwise there's nobody left for them to finish ahead of. They are really performing at the level that their team and budget allows.
I see your point. However, I don't share your view that the current performance is what their team and budget allows for. They shouldn't really be behind Mclaren. Mclaren is still in the process of digging themselves out of a hole. Their new stars Key and Seidl have just joined earlier this year. Renault should have a PU integration advantage, as well as more experienced and arguably better drivers. Hulkenberg notebly defeating Sainz in equal machinery last year, and Ricciardo arguably being still half a step above. Also pace wise, Renault should be closer to the top three and being more consistent doing so. If i recall correctly, Renaults target was for a solid 4th place in the Constructors' last year and a relative pace improvement to the top teams this year. I think they have the budget to make it happen, not to challenge the top three teams but to close up to them. I don't think for a minute that the board members at Renault are happy with current state of affairs. Especially not getting lapped.
It would in my opinion made a whole bit more sense if Renault had a car like the MCL34, performing well and consistenly, and Mclaren being the hit-and-miss team that Renault currently are, since Mclaren is the team in the progress of rebuilding.