Abiteboul: Result 'one of our strongest' since return to F1

©Renault

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Cyril Abiteboul says the double top-ten finish enjoyed by Renault in the British Grand Prix was one of the best performances achieved by the manufacturer since its return to F1 in 2016.

Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon crossed the checkered flag at Silverstone on Sunday respectively 4th and 6th after solid drives from both drivers.

"It was a very good result from a team perspective and one of our strongest since our return to Formula 1," commented Abiteboul.

"It is particularly good here in Silverstone, a temple of the Formula 1 championship and one of the home races for the team.

"Clearly, there was a bit of help towards the end to gain positions, but that should not take away from the very strong performance that the team has put in throughout the weekend."

Beyond the strong performance displayed by the team's R.S.20 at Silverstone, the productive day also reassured the French outfit about its car's reliability which had been called into question after the first two races of the season.

Ricciardo surprised by late stage pace on hard tyres

"Today, both drivers had a strong opening lap to have track position and then we decided to stop both cars for Hards under the safety car, which the pit crew did an excellent job on," added Abiteboul.

"We also had strong reliability and that’s so important when we have eventful races like this one.

"After tracks where the car struggled, Silverstone’s layout confirmed the strengths and weaknesses of the car.

"In particular we must keep working on high-speed corners as that’s our weakness compared to direct rivals. We have made progress but we should not lose sight of our direct competitors nor of the competitiveness level of Mercedes in all circumstances."

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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.