Daniel Ricciardo is getting ready for his first full Formula One season following the end of his McLaren contract in 2022.
After changing their name from AlphaTauri to VCARB, Daniel Ricciardo thinks the team can finish in the top five in the first half of the next season. The 34-year-old is attempting to convince people that he should rejoin Red Bull in 2025 when Sergio Perez’s contract is about to expire.
Partway through the 2023 season, Ricciardo returned to Formula One, taking Nyck de Vries’ place after the Dutchman’s wretched start to his time with AlphaTauri. Following a hand break sustained in a crash during the Dutch Grand Prix, the well-liked Australian had a positive campaign finale as the team moved up from tenth to eighth in the Constructors’ Championship.
This season, VCARB, which stands for Visa Cash App RB, will gain from a closer partnership with Red Bull as the defending champions aim to elevate their sister team after a very disappointing 2023 campaign.
After the VCARB launch, Ricciardo talked about goals for the upcoming year. “You have to aim high, but being in this sport for so long, you want to remain realistic as you don’t want to end up ultimately disappointed,” he said.
“Aiming for the top five should be our goal; if we succeed in doing so, podiums may emerge. Of course we want to win, but let’s take a few more steps. I believe we made progress last year. Do I believe that in the first half of the season, top five finishes are possible and even likely? I hope that’s the case.
Going into the preseason, Ricciardo is full of faith in the VCARB team, and he believes he has the best chance of challenging for regular points finishes and applying pressure to Perez if the RB-01 car performs well.
If Red Bull decides to replace Checo, Ricciardo is the most likely choice because Lando Norris just signed a new contract with McLaren and Alex Albon, a major target, is locked into a contract with Williams through the end of 2025. But first, he needs to defeat teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who is about to begin his fourth Formula One season, with convincing results.
In response, Ricciardo said, “I’m feeling good ahead of this make-or-break season. With a brief 2023, I didn’t require as much of an off-season as everyone else. Going home was still nice, but I didn’t really need to let my hair down.
“It feels like a preseason already because I was well-prepared and had a little advantage last year, so I am familiar with the team.” There is nothing left on the table, Bahrain. Come on. There are no more questions in terms of preparation, but I can’t say where we’ll end up.
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