3 Renault displays serious signs of life
Stepping into the Ferrari-shaped chasm behind the two Mercedes and mighty Max was the muchimproved Renault team. Fourth for Daniel Ricciardo and fifth for Esteban Ocon equalled Renault’s best result of F1’s hybrid era, from last season’s Italian GP, only this time it was achieved without help from Vettel spinning off. Ricciardo also earned the bonus point for fastest lap and finished within four seconds of Verstappen’s hobbling Red Bull.
The key this time was sustaining strong Friday practice form – Ricciardo was second fastest – into Saturday. Ocon was second in FP3 and Ricciardo qualified fourth, ahead of Alex Albon’s Red Bull. Ricciardo almost passed Verstappen on lap one and was quick enough to finish fourth on merit.
Ricciardo said Renault hit the same “sweet spot” with car set-up at Spa as it had at the second Silverstone race, which suggests genuine progress. “There is something fundamental which I think we’ve got a good choke-hold on,” he said. “I’m not sure we had a real discovery like this last year.”
Fifth was Albon’s best qualifying effort since Austria. He was more comfortable with the RB16 at Spa but still miles off Max and eventually beaten by both Renaults, suggesting the RB16 is still a very difficult car that is perhaps flattered by Verstappen’s heroics. Lando Norris upheld Mclaren honour by finishing on Albon’s tail, after exhaust failure prevented Carlos Sainz taking the start.
Pierre Gasly was unlucky to do no better than eighth after the Safety Car spoiled his excellent strategic choice to start on the hard tyre, on which he made impressive early progress. He beat both Racing Points, which fell further off the pace with each session, suggesting Racing Point could do with a go on Ricciardo’s sweet spot detector.