Daniel Ricciardo believes he’s had a positive influence on the Renault team since his arrival despite their 2019 struggles.
The Aussie left Red Bull after five years at the end of 2018 as he linked up with Renault on a two-year deal, looking to aid their rise up the field.
However, after finishing best-of-the-rest P4 in the 2018 Constructors’ Championship, the French manufacturer have taken a big step backwards this season and currently find themselves P8 after five rounds.
Ricciardo insists that “motivation certainly hasn’t dipped” within the team, and hopes his input will continue to be positive.
“I still see what I saw when I signed, as far as the input everyone’s having, the infrastructure still going up, motivation certainly hasn’t dipped by any means,” he told reporters during Wednesday’s Driver Press Conference.
“It’s going to take a bit more time, I am trying as well and doing everything I can.
“I feel that also everything I have put in has been taken on board and the team is willing to grow and learn. I’m not saying it is all me, but at least my influence has been quite positive.
“I am enjoying it. I really am. I’d love to get better results. Hopefully a special weekend here will kick things off nicely.”
Ricciardo has scored points just once this season in China, but he maintains that it’s a “process” for himself and Renault.
“It’s still certainly a process,” Ricciardo said of Renault’s project. “I wouldn’t say I am surprised by anything.
“Obviously we would have hoped for better results than we have currently got. We all want that, we are all honest enough to admit that.
“It would be nice to get a few more seventh places, as opposed to struggling for the top 10. But we didn’t expect to be in podium contention or anything like that.”
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