Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg has admitted that the team has lost the opportunity to finish fifth in the Formula 1 constructors’ championship following their double retirement in Mexico.
Hulkenberg’s race ended with an MGU-K failure and was one of three Renault power unit failures during the course of the race. Team-mate Carlos Sainz Jr’s day instead ended with steering problems.
The retirements followed a promising qualifying session in which both drivers reached Q3. Renault was optimistic that their recent upsurge in performance could see them overhaul fifth-placed Williams in the constructors’ standings.
However, with Williams’ Lance Stroll securing sixth place in Mexico, the gap between Renault and fifth place has extended to 28 points. Just two races remain.
“For the moment we need to forget a bit about the constructors’ championship and take it race weekend by race weekend,” Hulkenberg reflected.
“At these two remaining race weekends we have to maximise what we have and also, very importantly, see the chequered flag – simply to finish the race and get results and data, data, data!
“But sure, Mexico has taken away a very good chance of finishing in P5. That’s even more disappointing given our qualifying results there.”
While Williams is out of reach, Renault is just five points behind Toro Rosso in the battle for sixth.
Renault’s Sainz switched from Toro Rosso to join the French team after the Japanese Grand Prix, replacing Jolyon Palmer.
Palmer had only secured one points finish in the 16 races in 2017 prior to his departure.
The team hoped that Sainz – who currently sits ninth in the drivers’ standings on 54 points – would be more adept at extracting the maximum points potential from the final races the season.
“He is fast and has straightaway had a positive impact on the team,” Hulkenberg noted. “We are pushing each other, so this is all very positive for the team – and its future.
“It’s cool working with him and so far we have so far a good relationship.”
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