Ricciardo says Renault "needs something big" to compete next year
F1 News
Daniel Ricciardo says that small changes will not be enough to make Renault competitive in 2020 after a fairly underwhelming first season with the French team. Ricciardo has finished in the top ten on just six occasions, picking up 42 points in the process, leaving him ninth in the standings with just four races to go.
Renault began the year with intentions of consolidating the P4 they took in the Constructors' Championship and closing the gap on the big three teams, but it hasn't gone that way, with McLaren comfortably overtaking them, the British team leading by 34 points.
And now Ricciardo has encouraged his team to return in 2020 with a new mindset. Speaking to RACER, the Australian said: "At times we’ve had a good car but it’s not the level where it could be and I think with the resources we have, it can be better.
"If we kind of just make some improvements on this year’s car it’s probably not going to be enough, so I’ll probably say you’ll expect a different car next year, a different philosophy.
"Maybe that’s riskier, but if we don’t risk anything maybe we improve a little bit on this year but ultimately that’s not where the team wants to be. So I guess there’s going to be a bit of change."