Budapest (AFP)
Only four points for Renault with the Australian Daniel Ricciardo: the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday hardly did the business of the French contingent.
. Renault: "weekend to forget" for Ocon, not for Ricciardo
Fourteenth on the grid as in the GP, Esteban Ocon experienced a "weekend to forget". "We are all disappointed," he says. "It was bad from start to finish." However, things had not started so badly in free practice, but in qualifying the behavior of his car and the strategic choices made with his team did not satisfy him. He did not do better in the race, unlike his teammate Daniel Ricciardo, 8th and "happy enough to take points". "We had a good pace, there are some positive things to take away," said the Australian, 11th in the drivers' classification with 8 units, against 4 for Ocon, 13th. Among manufacturers, Renault is 6th with 12 points, behind McLaren and Racing Point (40 units each).
. The planets aligned against Gasly
When it doesn't, it doesn't ... All weekend, Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso) was afflicted by mechanical problems: deprived of free practice 1 first, by a recalcitrant engine, forced to the feat in qualifying by an engine still failing which he then had to change, then betrayed in the race by his gearbox, which forced him to give up on the 16th lap. "I'm a little disappointed," he says. "On a circuit on which we knew we could do something, it's a bit boring ..." His tenth place on the grid should be the only proof . The Normand is 12th in the championship with 6 points.
. Bet lost for Grosjean
By swapping the rain tires of his two pilots for slicks before the start, Haas made a paying "bet" for the Dane Kevin Magnussen, 9th, not for Romain Grosjean, 15th, out of the points race by a collision with the Thai Alexander Albon (Red Bull). Both are however the subject of an investigation by the race stewards for having supposedly benefited from piloting assistance during the training lap. "It was a good strategic choice on the part of the team, Judge Grosjean. The first laps were a little olé olé then everything started to work well and the pace was good", despite a tire on the left front a little abyss. But there was this contact with Albon, who came up on him. "The front wing was damaged and suddenly the car was less efficient, we tried everything but it was over, impossible to stay in the points", continues the Franco-Swiss. This strategic move should not overshadow 18th place only on the grid. "The car is not yet fast enough," insists the man, who still has to score his first point in the driver classification.
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