Daniel Ricciardo credited the Renault engine department after he and teammate Nico Hulkenberg led the midfield at the Italian Grand Prix.
Not only that, the pair scored the company’s best result as a works team since the days of Fernando Alonso in 2008 by claiming fourth and fifth at Monza, beating Red Bull on merit.
For Ricciardo, the strong result is also one he felt had been on the cards for some time.
“I felt that this one was a bit overdue because really since Canada we haven’t had a strong team result,” he noted to Crash.net.
“[In Italy,] we finally got maximum points if you know what I mean, that is really pleasing.”
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It was then Ricciardo highlighted the performance of the power unit, which put to bed many memories of being left behind in recent years.
“I want to give an extra special shout out to Viry, to the engine boys, because this sort of result here as a Renault team and power unit is quite a statement,” he said.
“Every year we come here and it feels like that there is a lack of optimism, at least in the last few years it was never a strength of ours coming here.
“For them to turn it around this year to make the gains and to put on this result here is special. So this one is for them. They deserve a glass of champagne tonight.”
The big question now is whether Renault can sustain at least midfield-leading pace on different types of circuits, after the low downforce nature of Spa and Monza.
“I really wish we can and hope we can. We’re coming up to different circuits. High downforce in Singapore on a bumpy street circuit,” he said to Sky Sports.
“Even though this is unique, it is Monza, you take all the wing off. I definitely feel there is something we can still learn from this.”