Renault F1 Managing Director Cyril Abiteboul has praised the contribution of Robert Kubica at the post-Hungarian Grand Prix test towards the development of the RS17 for the remainder of the season.
The reason for the Pole’s participation in Budapest on the Wednesday after the race was two-fold, first to assess his capabilities in the 2017 car as part of an evaluation which could lead to a potential full return next year and also to help Renault further understand recent upgrades and test new ones that may or may not be used in coming races.
The topic of Kubica has been one Abiteboul has treated very carefully as he tries to manage the expectations of those who want to see the former race winner return and not unsettle current driver Jolyon Palmer, who’s future has been called into question.
That low-key response was again apparent when commenting on the 32-year-old’s performance saying: “[It] was a very productive day from all involved. Robert’s journey back to an official test session is an incredible story and he delivered well on the day.
“He followed test driver Nicholas Latifi, with both drivers contributing to our development of the car. Both Nico and Jolyon should benefit from the progress made.”
It is currently unknown what the next step is for Kubica with no tests scheduled until after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November. A possible Friday Practice outing can’t be ruled out either but the possible message that would send could harm Abiteboul’s current efforts to help Palmer.
As for the performance of the Renault car, the next two races are not expected to suit the French manufacturer given their power unit deficit, but the team is looking to build on strong recent performances that have seen them move up the pecking order.
“We are looking at Monza as a benchmark as it could provide a clear picture of the ranking of the engines,” engine boss Remi Taffin said. “Being in the top 10 will be a good result as these next two circuits are power-hungry. We know we’re not the fastest on the grid, but as a team, we are showing we are the force after the top three,” he added.
“We know we’re not the fastest on the grid, but as a team, we are showing we are the force after the top three,” he added. “Qualifying pace has looked good, with Britain and Hungary exemplifying our ability to be the fourth best team.
“It’s just a case of building on that and bettering the race pace, that comes from leveling up everything, we need to show off reliability and mileage and that is something we are giving close attention.
“We are on a good trend and we will keep adding performance in terms of both aerodynamics and engine so hopefully this can be seen in the upcoming races.”
