Abiteboul admits 2019 has been his "most difficult season so far"

It hasn't been straightforward for Renault this season and Cyril Abiteboul has admitted this season has been his most challenging season to date. Renault sit fifth in the Constructors' Championship.

Having won the best of the rest accolade in 2018 expectations were high for Renault but they've slipped down to fifth as a resurgent McLaren take control of the best of the rest position. However, they've had positive results in Canada and more recently Japan where Daniel Ricciardo finished sixth despite failing to make it out of Q1.

Their mixed season was recently compounded by the news that McLaren would be ditching them as their engine supplier and will use a Mercedes PU from 2021. 

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Abiteboul admitted this has been his hardest season so far as he reflected on 2019. 

"The pressure? Very high. It is a tough season and for me personally the most difficult season so far. Because of the high expectations," Abiteboul admitted.

“We have always said that we want to finish on P4 and we are clearly not there; We are fifth. But I think our actions, especially Daniel (Ricciardo), and investments make people think our expectations were higher. That is not the case."