---
title: "Ricciardo left ‘fulfilled’ by Renault’s 2020 turnaround"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2020/12/14/ricciardo-left-fulfilled-by-renaults-2020-turnaround/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Hamilton Lyndon-Griffiths"
section: "F1 News"
published: "2020-12-14T15:04:30Z"
modified: "2020-12-14T15:04:31Z"
---

# Ricciardo left ‘fulfilled’ by Renault’s 2020 turnaround

Daniel Ricciardo says he feels “fulfilled” by Renault’s turnaround in form during the 2020 season, as he leaves the Enstone-based outfit after a two-year spell.

Ricciardo joined Renault from Red Bull in 2019, but it proved a difficult transition as the team failed to deliver its promise on closing the gap Formula 1’s big three teams Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull.

A much improved package has seen Ricciardo a regular points finisher in 2020, but the Australian is departing to rivals McLaren after singing a deal before the season opener in Austria in July.

In his final outing for the French outfit, Ricciardo bagged a strong seventh place finish, along with a point for fastest lap, to end his stint with Renault on a high note.

“It was definitely a good race, a nice way to end it,” Ricciardo said, as quoted by Motorsport.com.

“We know Abu Dhabi as a Sunday venue, it’s not always the most exciting race. But I certainly felt I did what I had to do today.

“The car was really strong on the hard tyre, went long, and I think I had the fastest lap in the bag on the second-last lap, but I actually went off in the last corner, so I really stretched it on the last lap.

“It was a nice way to kind of do my last ever lap in the Renault. It was good to know it was a fast one, a good sign off.”

Ricciardo more than doubled his points tally from 2019, in a year which saw him return to the podium after a two-year absence.

Two top-three finishes at the Nurburgring and Imola guided Ricciardo to his first top-five finish in the drivers’ championship since 2017.

Asked what his emotions were as his chapter with Renault came to a close, Ricciardo replied: “I feel fulfilled, to be honest.

“I felt it coming into the track today, it was like, ‘oh yeah, this is it’.

“This year, although shortened, it was such a chaotic year, but actually a really strong one. I’m really pleased with how far we’ve come, both myself and the team.

“I think fifth in the drivers’ championship. Obviously there’s no award for that, but it speaks for itself in the turnaround we’ve made this year.”