Nico Hulkenberg gave the team its best qualifying result of the year at Silverstone on Saturday with sixth place, but the German moves up to fifth thanks to a penalty for Valtteri Bottas.

Hulkenberg was fourth in Q1, fifth in Q2 and sixth in Q3.

An update package, including a new floor, has given the Enstone team an instant boost, and Abiteboul says there is more to come.

"We have a floor and all that goes with it, and there is more to come from Budapest onwards," Abiteboul told Motorsport.com. "That floor is the triggering event to many more steps to come.

"I'm really happy because it's also good for all that is in pipeline, because in the wind tunnel is a couple of weeks in advance of the car, and that's confirming the direction we are following is right, and hopefully that will pay off."

Although Hulkenberg's grid position was helped by the Bottas penalty and problems for Daniel Ricciardo, the German was nevertheless clearly best of the rest behind the three leading outfits.

"This is exactly where we need to be as soon as possible in a constant manner," said Abiteboul. "There will continue to be ups and downs, we know that, but that's exactly the target.

"We know that we can't compete with the bigger teams at this point in time, but we should be in that ballpark as possible."

Abiteboul said Hulkenberg's fifth place on the grid has come with perfect timing on the weekend that the French manufacturer celebrates the 40th anniversary of its debut in the sport.

"A great day," he said. "It's typical F1. You leave Austria nowhere, and you suddenly you come one week later to Silverstone and the car is completely changed. We knew we were bringing quite a lot of parts, we don't play up external and also internal expectations.

"We need to be careful, because this track and this weather is playing to our advantage, so we need put a little distance with that result. The long run will be a different story. The key area for tonight and tomorrow is to think about tyre management and strategy.

"It is still a great result for a team that is in construction. It's also a day of celebration for us because it's 40 years, so it's perfect timing.

"I was thinking of all the people who have been involved in 40 years, and I think they have been pushing to get that result today."