Daniel Ricciardo says Renault has to accept McLaren has been “better” in 2019 and must aspire to reel in its rivals next year, rather than hope the Woking-based team slips up.
Renault finished fourth in last year’s Constructors’ Championship and entered this season hoping to reduce the gap to Formula 1’s leading three teams, but has remained in the midfield group.
Renault trails fourth-placed McLaren by 38 points with just two rounds remaining.
“They have been a target for us this year, but now that we are pretty much at the end of the year, we have to accept that they have been better than us this year,” said Ricciardo.
“More times than not they are going to be faster than us. It is just how it is. To be disappointed that they are in front now does not make sense anymore because we have to accept that at the moment they are in front.
“We are not going to give up but looking ahead to next year hopefully we can bring them back towards us.
“They have made gains on the front of the field so ideally we make gains on the front with them as opposed to them falling back to us.”
Ricciardo nonetheless stressed that he has been encouraged by the “initiative” Renault has demonstrated by the recent changes it has made to its technical set-up.
Renault has appointed Dirk de Beer as Head of Aerodynamics while former Ferrari and McLaren aero chief Pat Fry is to join the outfit next year.
“When I came into the team there were still a [lot of] moving parts,” said Ricciardo.
“This year it still has not been perfect so still some moving parts to try and tidy some scenarios up.
“So with Pat coming in, I have not met him or worked with him before, but he obviously has a lot of experience, so looking forward to that.
“More so just from what I see from the team in terms of recognising that there are still some places where we can be better. So we are acting on that and I like that initiative from them.
“We will see the right calls and decisions. But just taking the courage to make change I respect that.”
