Time for critics to now take Renault seriously - Abiteboul

Cyril Abiteboul believes Renault's recent results have finally proven the team is on an upward trajectory and should now be taken seriously in Formula 1.

At the recent Eifel Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, Daniel Ricciardo scored Renault's first podium for over nine years in finishing third.

Allied to results at the previous four races, and in tandem with what the Australian has described as "a complete car" it means the team is pushing for third place in the constructors' championship.

While it has taken Renault almost five years to reach such a position since it returned to F1 as a constructor in 2016, Abiteboul believes those who have criticised the team over the years can start to be silenced.

"It gives confidence that we are on the right trajectory to progress," said Abiteboul of Renault's performance in Germany. "Although our trajectory is only relative to what the others will be doing between now and the next few years.

"But certainly, I think that we can now be taken seriously when we say that first, we are committed to the sport because part of the question marks were the level of commitment of Renault into this.

"That’s now very clear, in particular under the new leadership of Luca de Meo. There is also a very clear strategy with Alpine, and the team is progressing."

Abiteboul recognises that while significant progress has been made on the power unit side, in particular, Renault is far from the finished article as one podium is only a small step on its journey to challenging the likes of Mercedes and Red Bull.

"The target last year was to more or less reach engine parity, and we did that last year," added Abiteboul. "There is still a bit more to come.

"The next target was for the chassis, to also make a clear step, and we’ve done that. So I think that now when we talk about the future and the next steps that we want to take, we can also be taken more seriously.

"But again, there is so much more to come in order to get to a position of winning races on a regular basis."

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