Ricciardo on RB’s fighting intentions
Daniel Ricciardo said the Formula 1 world will have to take the renamed and revamped RB team “more seriously” in 2024.
Ricciardo is preparing for his full season at the Faenza squad previously known as Toro Rosso, AlphaTauri and now Visa Cash App Racing Bulls since 2013, but believes in 2024 it will be a different proposition.
The team now led by Laurent Mekies will enter a new chapter in 2024 and is determined to jump out of Red Bull’s shadow.
Ricciardo hopes to recapture his best after a stop-start 2023, while Japanese teammate Yuki Tsunoda is determined to lift his profile
With Ricciardo in his 14th season and Tsunoda in his fourth, the team has its most experienced line up ever since joining the sport in 2006.
Ricciardo said the changes both inside and out have meant the team is now determined to be taking “more seriously”.
“How I feel about it is probably for the outside in, other teams or people who think that’s it’s just a Red Bull kind of junior team, it’s a way for everyone to take us more seriously,” he said.
VCARB 01 seen at the car launch inn Las Vegas, 2024 // Digital Lighthouse / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202402080605 // Usage for editorial use only //
“I think it’s a year where we feel like we kind of stand on our own two feet, and have some serious partners on board and I think that’s massively beneficial for us as a team.
“The structure has changed a lot, a lot of new personnel coming in, and we’re trying to really build something that’s going to fight obviously, we all hope for now, at the front of the midfield.”
Ricciardo reaffirmed the team’s intentions to be regular in Q3, something only achieved six times out of 22 races last year.
“We want to be fighting at the front of the midfield,” he said.
“So if we’re consistently a Q3 car, consistently getting points, top 10s and not just the odd race, maybe a sixth and then a 15th.
“I think because consistency then kind of really shows that you have an understanding of the car, and the team has a good grasp on it, and that can then help you go that step closer to the front.
“So consistency, that’s what I’m going for so far.”
The team’s fresh new look hails back to the livery Toro Rosso used from 2017-2019 and Ricciardo likes it.
“From what I’ve seen, it’s cool. I think the overalls and all that, we look good, that’s cool,” he said.
“And it’s a nice thing of course presentation, it’s a big thing for us.
“Performance is of course primary, and we’ll have to see how that goes on track.
“But we’ve got the looking good part down, and hopefully everyone else likes it too.”
Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool
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