- Team changed its name from AlphaTauri
- Unveiled new car for next F1 season
- Ricciardo doesn’t want to just make up the numbers
Australian Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo has stated that his team is now more than just a platform for Red Bull Racing, as they unveiled their new car for the 2024 season.
Visa Cash App RB (formerly AlphaTauri) unveiled their newest challenger in Las Vegas on Friday afternoon AEDT.
The team is undergoing more than just a name change; they are moving their UK base to Milton Keynes, where Red Bull Racing is based, and have appointed a new leader.
Laurent Mekies, Ferrari’s former sporting director, takes on the leadership role following the retirement of Franz Tost. This marks a significant shift for the team, as Tost has been at the helm since 2005.
Australian F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo is feeling good ahead of the new season as Visa Cash App RB launches a colorful new car for the 2024 season
Ricciardo, winner of eight F1 Grands Prix in his career, is remarkably optimistic about the coming season despite these substantial changes.
“There will be a lot of new staff and some big partners coming on board,” Ricciardo told F1.com.
“The team has always taken itself seriously, but I feel like this is another step forward.
‘It is no longer just a platform for Red Bull Racing, it is a time for us to fight at the front of the midfield.
“I love what has happened, the changes that have taken place. There’s something about the team, the mentality is a little bit different, kind of a point to prove. It is cool. It’s fun.’
In 2023, Ricciardo made a strong impression with the Red Bull junior team, moving mid-season to take over from Dutch rookie Nick de Vries.
Although he only competed in seven races after joining the team mid-season, Ricciardo suffered a setback with a broken wrist suffered during a practice session in the Netherlands.
Visa Cash App RB is launching their new vehicle in Vegas with a strong blue stripe accentuating the new car
Daniel Ricciardo and fellow Visa Cash App RB driver Yuki Tsunoda at the launch in Las Vegas
Ricciardo’s standout performance for the season came at the Mexican Grand Prix, where he secured seventh place, which was the team’s best result for any driver last season.
Now, with a complete preseason behind him, Ricciardo is aiming to secure a higher position on the grid in the coming races.
“You have to aim high, but because you have been in this sport for so long you want to be realistic because you don’t want to be disappointed in the end,” he told F1.com.
“Top five should be a target and if we get into that position, maybe some podiums will present themselves.
‘Do I think top-five results are on the table, and could they also be on the table in the first half of the season? I’d like to think so.’
Testing will take place later this month, ahead of the first race of the season in Bahrain on March 3, AEDT.