RENAULT were celebrating seeing both their drivers in the points after an action-packed Chinese Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Nico Hülkenberg took a fine sixth place for the Enstone-based team, while Carlos Sainz finished ninth in a race won by Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo.

The lead changed hands several times, while the safety car was in operation following a crash between the two Toro Rosso cars.

“The safety car played to our hands and made things easier,” said Hulkenberg.

“But even without it, we would have done OK.”

Sainz added “Double points for the team again this year. Well done!”

The Banbury-based Haas team were also in the points, with Kevin Magnussen coming in tenth, while Romain Grosjean was 17th.

It was another disappointing race for the Grove-based Williams team, however, with Lane Stroll and Sergey Sirotkin finishing 14th and 15th respectively.

Stroll said: “I made up five or six positions. Then after that I believe we raced the maximum out of the car.”

Sirotkin admitted: “It was a difficult race. I tried to get some positions.

“I think I could have managed better.”