Daniel Ricciardo says he is “really encouraged” by Renault’s performance at the Unite𓃲d🐬 States Grand Prix as he finished as the top midfield runner.

Despite ending up around six-tenths behind both McLaren drivers🎃 in qualifying, Ricciardo and Renault turned the tables on its closest midfield rival in ꦚthe race to claim a ‘best of the rest’ sixth place ahead of Lando Norris. 

Ricciardo had already conceded earlier in the Austin weekend that McLaren was 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:now out of reach in the battle for fourth spot in the constructors’ championship. The French manufacturer trails its cus🐻tomer team by 38 points with just two races remaining🌳.

“The start was fun and⭕ the first♌ lap was cool,” Ricciardo said.

"I went back and forth a bit with Lando.🐭 Initially got h🌠im, he got me back and then I got him a few laps later.

“Then he could see that his one stop🦂 was not going to work behind me, so they cಌalled him in for a two-stopper.

“Actually just before that [Alexander] Albon had boxed 𒀰for a two and I know that he has more pace with the Red Bull but ൲he came back through us so quickly.

"So when I knew that Lando had pitted for a two stop, I feared that the last few laps of the race were going to be not too fun. He got on my gearbox i🔴n the last corner. But we held him off.

“One more lap and t🐻he two stop had us. It was nice to be sixth and beat them and get more points. Two good weekends in a row now, it is nice.”

Asked if he finds Renault’s strong showing encouraging, Ricciardo replied: “It is. We know a few reasons why. Even Friday I was not strong on the long runs.

“So to come🌸ꩲ out here and be the best of the rest and to beat the McLarens, even when I think the two stop was the faster race in the end, that is really encouraging.

“So we will try and figure out why, how, but we 🤪will take it and go and enjoy it tonight.”