Daniel Ricciardo shares ‘feeling’ from first laps in new Visa Cash App RB F1 car

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Daniel Ricciardo has opened up on his first ‘feeling’ about the VCARB-01 after hitting Misano with the Faenza team’s first Formula 1 car under the Visa Cash App RB name.

The parent Red Bull brand opted to rename AlphaTauri over the winter by taking on outside investment for a title sponsor. It originally named the Faenza squad Toro Rosso after buying Minardi in 2005. But they will henceforth be called Visa Cash App RB from the 2024 season.

A new name is also the new beginning at Visa Cash App RB with drivers Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda. The outfit now strives to be more than just Red Bull’s feeder team. Laurent Mekies has also now replaced Franz Tost as the team principal as the 68-year-old retired after 2023.

Daniel Ricciardo hopes Visa Cash App RB can score big points

Ricciardo now hopes Visa Cash App RB can secure consistent top-five finishes in 2024 after unveiling the VCARB-01. He only claimed one points-scoring result after returning to Faenza last year to replace Nyck de Vries. The 34-year-old finished seventh at the Mexico City GP.

Tsunoda also only took six points-scoring results across the 22-round season with two P8s, a P9 and three P10s. The 23-year-old also took points in one of the six Sprint events. While De Vries failed to score a point and stand-in star Liam Lawson got ninth at the Singapore GP.

Daniel Ricciardo shares his initial ‘feeling’ about the VCARB-01

Ricciardo got his first experience of the VCARB-01 this Thursday as Visa Cash App RB held a shakedown session at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. It is an hour away from their factory in Faenza and gave the team a chance to shake off any cobwebs ahead of testing.

Formula 1 has only scheduled one official winter test in Sakhir from February 21-23 ahead of the Bahrain GP on March 2. Ricciardo is still unsure how Visa Cash App RB will fare when the five red lights go out. But it felt ‘really good’ to be back behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car.

“Every year you get excited for a new car,” Ricciardo said, via quotes by Speedcafe. “I think it presents a new opportunity.

“Firstly, the livery, I think the car looks great. And from a feeling, it was just nice to get a few laps again after the Christmas break. It’s hard to know yet where we’ll be, of course, it’s only early. But for me, personally, I felt really good getting behind the wheel again.”