RENAULT COMPLETES TEST DAY AHEAD OF F1 RETURN

Esteban Ocon has concluded Renault’s two-day test at the Red Bull Ring in Austria ahead of the start of the 2020 season next month.

A number of teams are getting some on-track running in before the first race of the year, as they practice new safety protocols implemented as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Ocon, who was driving the 2018 Renault R.S.18 in a black livery, clocked 143 laps of the Spielberg circuit, following teammate Daniel Ricciardo’s 115-lap test on Tuesday.

Testing regulations require that for on-track running that’s outside of official sessions, teams run a car that’s at least two years old.

Ocon is making his return to Formula 1 in 2020, having sat on the sidelines as Mercedes’ reserve driver in 2019 after losing his seat at Force India (Racing Point).

Speaking last month about his return, Ocon said: “I’m waiting for so long now, I want to get back. But I’m in a good position, I have a contract signed, I’m ready to go when everything restarts. So I’m just waiting patiently to get going.”

Renault is looking to recapture the status of the midfield’s leading team, having lost fourth place in the constructors’ championship to McLaren last year.

Ricciardo completes test day ahead of F1 return

Daniel Ricciardo has completed a day of testing at the Red Bull Ring ahead of Formula 1’s competitive return at the Austrian circuit next month.

Ricciardo logged 115 laps, equating to almost 500km, on the first day of the Renault F1 Team’s private test.

Like Mercedes, Renault has opted to take advantage of the Testing of Previous Cars regulation to get in two days of running in a 2018-spec car.

Esteban Ocon is set to get behind the wheel of the R.S.18, which is wearing the Anglo-French squad’s black test livery, on Wednesday (local time).

The outing represents each driver’s first F1 mileage since pre-season in February, but also gives the wider team an opportunity to practice the various coronavirus-related protocols which will be in place when they return for the first two grands prix of the season.

The Austrian Grand Prix will take place on July 3-5, and the Styria Grand Prix on July 10-12.

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RENAULT COMPLETES TEST DAY AHEAD OF F1 RETURN – RENAULT COMPLETES TEST DAY AHEAD OF F1 RETURN