Carlos Sainz Jr. has stressed that Renault cannot feel “comfortable” in spite of its strong result at Formula 1’s United States Grand Prix.
Renault has come under renewed pressure from Haas since the summer break, with the Ferrari-powered operation drawing closer in the scrap for fourth in the Constructors’ Championship.
Renault had scored just 10 points in the five Grands Prix since the summer break but amassed 14 at Austin to build a 22-point buffer over Haas – albeit with the Italian GP results still provisional.
Sainz Jr. insists Renault must keep pushing, commenting: “We definitely had better pace in Austin and hopefully we can carry this on through Mexico and the remaining races.
“We need to keep scoring points. We can’t stay comfortable as we know anything can happen between now and the end of the season.
“But this result definitely gives us a boost and we have to relish this and repeat the form in Mexico.”
Renault team-mate Nico Hulkenberg concurred with the Spaniard’s summary.
“It’s the best team result I’ve been involved in since joining Renault, so that’s very satisfying and the whole team did an outstanding job,” he said.
“A strong qualifying was decisive and our race pace was, once again, competitive.
“Everything is still possible for us; three races remain and we have to back this result up in Mexico. “We know it won’t be easy, but the result in Austin will give everyone at Enstone and Viry a boost. “We’ll take these next three races a step at a time and aim for double points at each weekend.”
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