ESTEBAN Ocon is confident Renault can claim another impressive points haul as Formula 1 returns to Silverstone.

The Northamptonshire circuit hosts a race for the second consecutive Sunday after it served up an action-packed British Grand Prix last weekend.

Enstone-based Renault were the big winners after Valtteri Bottas and Carlos Sainz suffered punctures in the closing stages, with Ocon finishing sixth and teammate Daniel Ricciardo fourth.

It helped slash the gap to the team’s midfield rivals in the constructors’ championship and Ocon is hoping for more of the same at tomorrow’s 70th Anniversary Grand Prix.

He said: “After a result like that at the first Silverstone race, we definitely have the motivation to do the same, if not even better this weekend.

“One thing I think we can improve is qualifying.

“In Q1 and Q2 we were clearly a top eight, maybe even a top six, car and then in Q3 we just couldn’t quite get it together.

“If we can start higher up the order, our race pace is definitely good enough to take some big points.”

Ricciardo added: “The aim will be to nail our qualifying and see if we can sneak a little further up for the start.

“Our race pace has been good, so let’s see what we can do.”

Williams will also be aiming to build on a positive performance last time out.

The Grove-based team remain bottom of the championship without a point this season, but George Russell showed good race pace to come home 12th, with teammate Nicolas Latifi 15th.

Williams are the only team separating Haas from the foot of the standings after the latter endured a frustrating weekend.

French driver Romain Grosjean was 16th, while Dane Kevin Magnussen’s afternoon ended prematurely thanks to a first-lap crash with Alexander Albon.

Haas, who have a factory in Banbury, boast only a single point, but team principal Guenther Steiner saw enough to believe they can add to that tally.

He said: “What we learned last weekend is that the car is not too bad on race pace – Romain was competitive in the midfield.

“What we need to do is try to get better in qualifying, which at this moment in time is difficult.

“But that’s what we learned – in racing at Silverstone, we can play in the midfield.

“We just need to get the best out of qualifying so we can start in a position so we can make moves.”