Ricciardo convinced Renault has 'a bit more speed' than Ferrari

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Renault only has a hat trick of P8 finishes to show for its opening stint in 2020, but Daniel Ricciardo nevertheless feels that his team's R.S.20 is currently faster than Ferrari's charger.

Esteban Ocon put Renault's first points on the board for this season in the Austrian Grand Prix and Ricciardo followed suit in the following two races.

While Ocon outpaced Ferrari in qualifying in the second round held at the Red Bull Ring, neither the Frenchman nor his teammate made it out of Q2 in Hungary where Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc qualified respectively 5th and 6th.

The French outfit was also preceded by the Scuderia on Sunday, yet Ricciardo feels his car has an edge over the Italian team's SF1000.

Ocon: Renault season far from over despite 'horrible weekend'

"We have had eighth at every race," said the Aussie. "Look, obviously eighth is not bad, but I do really feel that we’ve had a bit more speed than an eighth-place car in all three of those races. At least the last two.

"I feel that we are not far from one of those top five, top six finishes. I feel that we have a bit more speed than Ferrari at the moment. At least it seems so, the race pace is not too bad. So it is coming.

"It is good to have got the points, but I know there are some bigger ones around the corner.

"It looked like we had a bit more pace than McLaren [in Hungary]. I am not sure where their race went, but we were pretty close to the Racing Point, so not too shabby."

©Renault

Looking forward to next week's British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Ricciardo says the fast Northamptonshire track will offer a good test of Renault's latest updates.

"Updates are always pretty nice and handy, and Silverstone is one of those tracks, there is some low-speed stuff, but it is pretty flowing with medium- and high-speed corners," he said.

"[That’s] really where the car is loaded, and where you see the front endplate, those types of corners where it drags and everyone is trying to work on this area of the car to keep some downforce in it and that high-speed role.

"Silverstone will test that and see if these updates can help."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.