Renault aiming for another bag of 'good points' at Monza

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Renault chief race engineer Ciaron Pilbeam and Esteban Ocon are aiming for their team to replicate at Monza the solid run in the points it enjoyed at Spa.

Daniel Ricciardo and Ocon capped off on race day Renault's best qualifying performance since the manufacture's return to F1 as a works outfit, with the pair finishing respectively 4th and 5th in Belgium.

Monza's similar low downforce profile should highlight once again the strengths of Renault's R.S.20.

"We were competitive in Spa, and we’re hoping for another good weekend," said Pilbeam in the team's Italian Grand Prix preview.

"We were competitive in Monza last year, finishing 4th and 5th, and we have just seen again that the car is good on lower downforce. If we can put together another weekend like the last one we hope to score some good points.

"The technical directive that comes into force in Monza, regarding qualifying and race engine modes, will affect all teams to some extent, and it will be interesting to see whether it affects the order of the grid in qualifying and the race."

Ocon has imposed on himself the straightforward mission of "replicating" at Monza his productive performance at Spa.

"That’s the target," he said. "Our performance in Spa shows we’re capable of some good things and the similar track characteristics means we should be in a good position to get strong points.

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Renault is currently sixth in the Constructors' standings, but Ocon reckons the Enstone squad can move up the order and finish the year as "best of the rest".

"We can. There's 10 more races to go, so we are only in the beginning of the season, more or less," he said after last Sunday's race.

"There's a long, long way of course, but it's very nice to see that we are coming into that fight very nicely.

"We need to get consistent at scoring and we don't want to have a second Barcelona for sure.

"But when there are opportunities like this coming, what's important is to get the points and that's what we've done this weekend."

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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.