Renault F1 Team unveil 2019 car

Picture credit: Renault F1 Team

Picture credit: Renault F1 Team

Picture credit: Renault F1 Team

Picture credit: Renault F1 Team

The Renault F1 Team, on Tuesday, unveiled its 2019 team colours and the driver line-up of Nico Hulkenberg and Daniel Ricciardo at their technical centre in Enstone, United Kingdom.

The Renault R.S.19 will be powered by the renamed Renault E-Tech 19 power unit, reflecting greater synergies with the Renault hybrid range.

Renault F1 Team managing director, Cyril Abiteboul, said: “I’m impressed by how everyone has taken to the task. This shows in the momentum we have gathered: ninth in 2016 with eight points, sixth in 2017 with 57 points and fourth last year with 122 points. We go into this season aiming to keep this strong and measured momentum. We do not target x or y position or a number of points: what I want to see is that the team continues its trajectory of progression towards the top teams. Engine excellency will be our priority in Viry while the structure now in place in Enstone strives to improve the competitiveness of the chassis, season after season.

“The added momentum of the Daniel-Nico partnership brings confidence to the team this season. I believe we have one of the strongest – if not the strongest – driver line-up on the grid. Daniel brings proven race winning experience and knowledge of a top team, while Nico is hungry. He’s hugely underrated – he’s quick, determined and a team motivator. Individually they are very strong and I feel the two will complement each other extremely perfectly. The energy they have brought to the team is very tangible and I hope we can give them a car to show their considerable talent,” he added.

Nico Hulkenberg (L) and Daniel Ricciardo. Picture credit: Renault F1 Team

German Hulkenberg said: “As a team, we’ve developed a lot since the start of 2017 and that’s all part of the process if we want to achieve our long-term targets. When I arrived, the infrastructure was still young, we’ve come a long way since then with a lot of progress. I want to extract the best from myself and maximise the potential from the team and the car. The important thing is, as a team, we take a good leap forward and perform better consistently. We want the trend to continue upwards and keep the developments coming.”

Australian Ricciardo, who moved to Renault from Red Bull for the upcoming season, said: “To be part of the next step of Renault’s journey is an exciting challenge. I’m here to do a job on track and drive as fast as possible, but I would like to bring the team energy. I want to put a spring in everyone’s step because that’s part of my job and also my character. I aim to be able to get the team to work that extra bit harder, put in more effort and rally everyone together. I’d like to be a catalyst for positive energy.

“Everything I learnt in 2018 will make me a better version of myself in 2019. The difference will be a more mature person. I have more clarity of where I’m going and I aim for that to be shown with good results on track. I feel a lot of positive pressure and expectation to do good things, but that’s something I’m looking forward to taking on,” he added.