Ricciardo aims high and warns of change: the new ‘Toro Rosso’ wants to challenge Aston Martin and the company

He Visa Cash App RBthe former called Alpha Tauri or Toro Rossoon Friday unveiled its Formula 1 car for the 2024 season, the RB-01, the first car under the newly released name given to the group of cars. Faenza with their new main sponsor, who will be piloting Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda. It’s still Red Bull’s ‘B’ team, but the Australian driver has made sure this year is anything but smooth sailing for the team. According to the former McLaren or Renault2024 represents a leap in quality for the team with a car in which they will aim to break into the Top-5 in several races at the start of the season.

At the presentation of the car, it was clear from the moment the car was seen that its main lines were the same (or similar) than its older sibling car in 2023, the Red Bull world champion where the energy drinks team won 20 out of 21 events last year. However, we have to wait for the tests Bahrain Now to the first events of the year to see how fast this car is on the track compared to the progress made by its rivals.

Ricciardo wants to aim for the Top-5 at the start

“I would say that being in the top five should definitely be a goal… and then if we get there, maybe some podiums will come along. Of course we want to win, but I think we made steps last year and there are “Need I can take a few more steps this year,” said Daniel, who is confident ahead of his first full season in F1 since leaving McLaren in 2022. He returned last year mid-season to replace De Vries at AlphaTauri and was quickly injured by a crash at Zandvoort.He returned at the end of the year and now his goal is to shine in the pursuit of promotion to Red Bull in 2025 in place of ‘Checo’ Pérez.

“But being in the top five is on the table and can it be on the table in the first half of the season? I would like to think so, absolutely,” added Daniel, emphasizing the steps forward made by the Faenza car at the end of 2023. If Daniel Ricciardo is right, in the first appointments the new Visa App may be close to the group where he expects to be Ferrari, Mercedes, Aston Martin and McLaren, chasing Red Bull.

“The way we developed the car until the end of last season, we definitely found some things that I think at the beginning worked well for me.and then Yuki (Tsunoda) I think he also found his strengths in his driving style. So there are a lot of things to keep us very optimistic about the exit,” Ricciardo said of the statements made in F1.

There are many internal changes

But not only the improvements in the car, we must also highlight the many changes that the team has experienced in its organizational structure, with the arrival of very important people. Franz Tost leaves after many years at the head of the team and will be his replacement Laurent Mekies, from Ferrari. Last year, a new CEO also arrived, Peter Bayer. And it was recently announced the arrival of just announced the arrival of Tim Goss as technical director, Guillaume Cattelani as deputy technical director, Alan Permanentewho took over as sporting director after Alpine was fired last year.

“A lot of new staff and some important partners have joined. Obviously the team has always taken itself seriously, but I feel like it’s a step forward now. It is no longer just a platform for Red Bull Racing. “It’s time for us to fight in front of the central zone.”assured Ricciardo.

“Of course, there is talk in the team, some people feel encouraged and optimistic and then others say ‘let’s wait’ until we get it on the track…’, so you never know. And that is the truth. And even though the team is very excited, I say, guys, let’s wait until we get to the track in Bahrain. But I like what happened, the changes that happened. “I feel that there is something in the team… the mentality is a bit different.” For Ricciardo, this year is a turning point for what this team is and what I can be. We’ll see if it’s just another New Year’s promise, before the course starts, or if it’s true.