Ocon left questioning where Renault’s pace went

Jamie Woodhouse
Renault PA

Esteban Ocon disappointed with lack of pace at Spanish Grand Prix.

Esteban Ocon had a frustrating Spanish Grand Prix, admitting that the R.S.20 failed to live up to his expectations.

Renault’s long-run pace looked strong during Friday practice ahead of the race, but it certainly didn’t translate into race pace on Sunday.

Daniel Ricciardo scored the team’s best result of the afternoon with P11, whilst P13 for Ocon meant Renault left the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya empty handed.

Ocon even attempted a one-stop strategy to make it into the points, but it was to no avail.

“I think there wasn’t much more we could have done today even with a two-stop,” he told reporters at the track.

“I think probably we could have managed a one-stop a little bit better but as a team this weekend we have struggled with pace.

“The car didn’t behave like we wanted, we are lacking grip but also a bit of balance, we’re not easy on tyres.

“So it’s one weekend that we have to analyse to come back stronger at Spa.”

Asked where the pace had gone from an R.S.20 which took Ocon to P8 at the last race at Silverstone, the Frenchman replied: “It’s a good question, straight away from the beginning of the weekend we didn’t feel like the car was behaving as well as Silverstone.

“We have a lot more work to do, and obviously in qualifying it has shown that we are not where we wanted to be.

“And usually we have a better race pace, but still not enough.”

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Ocon’s team-mate Ricciardo felt with track position there would maybe have been enough there for him to claim a point or two.

“It was just small margins again, we were so close to the top 10 but we didn’t quite have that track position,” he said.

“We were just behind Vettel when he pitted and then he managed to get seventh in the end.

“There was maybe just a little bit extra there that we missed, but we’ll try to figure out our mistakes and do better in two weeks’ time.

“It’s a shame with both cars when you don’t get the points, so work a bit harder for the next one and just try to find a few more answers.”

He also agreed with his team-mate that Renault took a step back from Silverstone, but also thought the fact that the drivers know the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya so well from testing played a part.

“I feel it was little more tricky for us around here than at Silverstone, but I think everyone else was just more competitive at a track that everyone knows so well,” he explained.

“That already makes it a little bit more difficult to find that extra tenth, but I think Spa will be better, you can overtake, have a bit more fun than around here.”

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