Nico has been part of the construction of the team three years.
He decided to join the team when we were P9.
We've been P4 last year all together, so he's really been part of that journey.
Nico is an extremely experienced driver, but he has never achieved a podium.
Our ambition, our target, is to be the best at everything,
just like Ferrari and Mercedes.
So, with Nico and Daniel,
that's a box ticked in relation to driver lineup.
I think we have a team that is definitely building its profile
and finally starting to believe.
Daniel joining the team
certainly has contributed to set the bar very high for this season.
We know we are racing, but don't hesitate to have fun.
Life is too short
to calculate.
Nico, this year is the last year of the initial term of our agreement,
so it's an important year and he's got expectations.
Okay, Nico, we've been told to target lap time of 16.5.
Danny's been given the same target.
Nico has the pace to be just as quick, if not quicker, than Daniel.
How was the last lap for Danny?
What pace is he on?
You are 1.5 tenths quicker.
Gap to Danny is 2.6 seconds.
I have to get closer than this.
What is the gap?
1.3 seconds to Danny.
Okay, Nico, I've been told you need to hold position.
Nico, we need to cool the car
and that means you need to open a two-second gap to Danny.
Nico.
That's bullshit!
So, just tell me not to race, mate. It's fine.
You are not racing, you've been told to hold position.
We need a two-second gap to the car in front to cool the car.
Okay, Nico, checkered flag.
Brilliant job, mate, absolutely fantastic.
I know it's a bit frustrating, but you did a fantastic job today, mate.
Absolutely excellent. Thank you very much.
-Thank you. -Thank you.
When are we getting the Renault F1 team jet?
When you do your first podium.
Ask him about his drivers, what he thinks, if he's happy with them...
so far.
He doesn't dare to ask me directly.
So, you are acting as a shrink for our couple.
We are not sure where we are going.
Is it a long-term thing?
Are you ready for this? Are we ready for this?
Look, the sea.
Something I want to do differently in future is...
We had to tell the two guys at the end of the race
not to race each other,
but we are now in a position where I think that we can let them race.
Not sure about this weekend.
We'll see how we are in terms of competitiveness.
Yes or no, but we'll know just before the race.
We still have three days to go.
Is that all right for you?
I'm not gonna answer that question.
Daniel!
Talking only about the drivers, for sure, we have to be careful
that we do not have a number one and a number two.
That does not exist and we don't want to have that.
That's easy... Easy.
To win with these two boys.
But it's difficult when you have two drivers
because, to be equal, to treat the people in the equal way...
The nose, maybe, Daniel.
It's fantastic to have the opportunity to race in your homeland.
The French heritage is still very strong within Renault.
Racing in front of your home public, in your home country,
it's important to do as good as you can.
But, obviously, you have this huge pressure
to improve the performance of the team.
Canada was clearly good news, but the start of the season has been
probably the most challenging experience in my career so far.
We had an objective to be closer to the top teams this year.
We had a good season last year. We finished fourth in the championship.
But this year, we are not performing well.
Bonjour.
-All good? -Think so, yeah.
-Smiling? -Smiling, yeah.
When I'm upset, I say it, but when I smile, I smile.
So, let's enjoy it.
So, gap to Gasly is 1.1.
Do you want to clear him quickly?
So, we have scenario one available if you need to.
Grosjean's next, he's doing 39.1.
Box to overtake.
Let's keep your status up now.
-How many laps to go? -Two more laps.
Oh, man. What a bitch, this traffic.
Shit. That might be dodgy.
He's off the track.
We're gonna get five... We could get five seconds for that.
That's gonna fuck everything.
That's what I thought.
We will be penalized because all four tires were off the track.
We are losing our place..
-We are losing our place? -We will be losing five seconds
and five seconds will mean ten.
We underdelivered, underperformed, and it's been tough to accept.
The harsh reality, that's coming back to you.
I know that if I don't deliver, my life expectancy is very limited.
So, that pressure requires me, as a leader,
to make sure that we make some strategic decisions for the future.
Well, no, you know, frankly, the situation is clear.
We have a two-year contract with Daniel.
Nico's contract initial term is coming to an end at the end of this year,
but we need to look at the options, like everyone is doing.
Toto is the team principal, but he is also managing me.
Hi, Cyril.
What are you doing this evening?
When are you leaving?
What about dinner?
Yes, that's a good idea.
Listen, I've got the cameras on me, by the way, right now.
You know I've got Esteban in the car with me, too.
But don't worry, he doesn't know what we're talking about.
Esteban, do you want to ask Cyril anything?
You know what I want to ask him.
He says, "You know what I want to say to him."
Okay. Let's talk later. Bye.
There's loads of rumors, always, isn't there? I mean, I heard--
I mean, I heard Ocon replacing you at Renault.
Those things. What do you think about all those rumors?
But what's your prediction? What do you think will happen with you?
It's good because we followed your advice, to stay out or something like that.
Last year, here.
Yeah, but it was only a few drops then.
Nico, this year, is the last year of the initial term of our agreement.
But there is also an option in place
so that we can continue our journey together.
And that's why I know that,
in everything that's happening on track and off track,
he's got that in the back of his mind.
I had contact with the Haas.
But I think the front is okay.
Copy, Nico.
Nico, if you've got any pace in hand, we need to use it now.
Nice work, Nico.
You are now P7.
Okay, Daniel.
How's the track? How's the track?
Struggling still. Locking the left front.
Okay, understood.
So, gap to Raikkonen unchanged.
Okay, Nico, overtake is available.
Nice work, Nico.
So, you are P5, mate. Great job so far.
I have a lot of smoke coming out.
Yeah, we may have an exhaust leak.
Stop the car, please, stop the car.
Yeah, it's shut off.
Okay, Nico, so you are P4 now, P4.
The rain is getting a bit heavier, Nico.
If you're happy to stay on these tires, then that's good for us.
Yeah, I think you're right.
The team at that moment, making all the right decisions,
perfectly in sync between the elements,
the weather, the track conditions, the driver, pit wall.
Okay, Nico, you are currently P2.
Bottas had to stop for tires. He's behind us now.
I started to realize Nico is on track for the podium.
This is the time.
Okay, let's stay focused. Great job so far.
So, you got Verstappen, who is the race leader, in front of you.
Watch out for possible oil on the track.
I'm a bit cautious with turn ten. It's very dangerous here.
Copy that, Nico.
Verstappen spun in front of me.
Verstappen has lost four seconds to you.
Okay then, I think it's time to go.
Car looks good to us, Nico.
You're doing an excellent job, there, Nico.
And that was it.
Any chance of maybe of a podium, gone in one blink of a second.
That's something that was in his control. He was driving the car.
So, you can't blame the elements,
you can't blame another driver, you can't blame the car.
Shame.
Next time.
The one that got away.
Sometimes, I wish it would go away.
-Sorry? -Just sometimes, it could go away.
Yeah.
I know, it's always bad luck.
And the fact that podium, once again, became unavailable to him,
I started to think that maybe there is a curse
or something between him and that top-three finish.
For the 2020 season, we decided not to renew Nico's contract
and give the seat to Esteban Ocon.