Daniel Ricciardo insists he’s “fired up” to help Renault put right its double DNF from last year’s Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sakhir circuit this weekend.
Bahrain marks the start of the final run-in to the end of the 2020 season, with just three of the 17 races remaining.
Renault was on course to secure a double points finish at the 2019 event, only for both Ricciardo and team-mate Nico Hulkenberg to retire simultaneously just a few laps from the end of the race. Ricciardo, who acknowledged his recent unblemished record in Bahrain, feels there is “unfinished business” for Renault to address.
“The Sakhir circuit in Bahrain is a good one, I’ve always enjoyed racing there and night sessions are always fun to take part in,” Ricciardo said.
“In recent years, I haven’t had the best results in Bahrain, but I’m looking to set that right this weekend.
“I’m feeling much more on top of the car since we were last in Bahrain, so I think we should be in a good place. We also have a bit of unfinished business there after last season, so I’m pretty hungry and fired up.”
Ricciardo’s current Renault team-mate Esteban Ocon is targeting a points finish a difficult run of form, with three retirements out of the last six races.
The Frenchman, who will partner double world champion Fernando Alonso when Ricciardo leaves to join McLaren in 2021, believes luck has evaded him of late but is eager to perform this weekend.
“I’m definitely feeling motivated after what happened at the last two races” Ocon said. “I’ve said it doesn’t feel like we have too much luck on our side of the garage, but I believe it’s in our own hands to turn that around.
“There’s not much time to feel sorry for ourselves, so I’m determined to have a solid weekend and take some big points at a strategic time of the season.”
Renault lost ground to its main rivals McLaren and Racing Point in the battle for third in the constructors’ championship after scoring just one point at the Turkish Grand Prix.
The Enstone-based outfit has slipped to fifth in the standings, 13 points adrift of fourth-placed McLaren, with Racing Point a further five points clear in P3.
