The Renault Formula 1 team has an “added level of emotion and motivation” heading into the first F꧙rench Grand Prix in a decade. 

F1 returns to France after a 10-year hiatus following the 2ಌ008 round, with Paul Ricard hostinꦜg the race for the first time since 1990, albeit at a revamped and longer 5.8km version of the circuit. 

For Renault, this weekend will provide the Fꦓrench manufacturer with its first GP on home soil since the last race at Magny-Cours, with Renault sport managing director Cyril Abiteboul keen to stress the importance of the race cannot be understated. 

"The return of the French Grand Prix is going to carry an added level of emotion for all a🀅t Renau♔lt. Everyone who works for the marque is proud of our heritage at this event,” Abiteboul said. 

“We head to Circuit Paul Ricard on the back of a positꦕive result in Montréal, where we demonst💝rated, once more, our excellent team spirit. We recovered from a difficult start to the weekend to take ten points and a healthy step forward in the Constructors’ Championship.”

Renault has enjoyed its strongest start to a season since returning as a full-blown works squad in 2016 and ♔currently holds fourth place in the constructors’ championship, 16 points clear of customer team McLaren. 

Carlos Sainz believes the nature of the Paul Ricard circuit should suit the strengths of Renault, with the team looking to build upon back-to-back double points finishes in Monaco and Canada, having been bolstered by a power unit 𓂃upgrade in Montreal. 

"We’re coming from a very strong team result in Canada so I think we can be positive about that,” Sainz explained. "We need to keep devel♉oping the car at this rate, as everything we are bringing to the circuit is working and the car is getting quicker and quicker. 

“Paul Ricar𒁏d has quite similar characteristics to Montréal, with the two long straights and emphasis on a good top speed so if we can perform in a similar manner to Canada we’ll be happy."

Teammate Nico Hulkenb🎐erg, who leads Sainz by eight points in eighth place in the drivers’ standings, added: “I’m very much looking forward to racing at Circuit Paul Ricard. It’s been a long time coming for Renault, 10 years since their last race on home soil, so I’m carrying that extra level of motivation to do the job proud on track. I know how much this means to the staff members of the teꦗam!”