Daniel Ricciardo shares his first statements from Bahrain and reveals his personal journey in finding his passion for his sport and the determination to fight for the top 5 in 2024 with Visa Cash App RB.
From a very difficult 2022 for McLaren to being left without a place on the F1 grid in 2023 and then becoming Red Bull's third driver. Daniel Ricciardo's last two years didn't seem to find a point of light, but as he himself expressed in his statements to Sky during the second day of testing in Bahrain: “Sometimes it takes something bad to happen for a door or window to open.”
And that's exactly what happened during 2023, when Christian Horner opened the doors for the Australian, in the team that had been his home. Driving under the Toro Rosso name until 2013 and returning under the Alpha Tauri name last season, Daniel is well aware of the current reality of his team, now known as Visa Cash App RB.
In 2023, Ricciardo's prestige among drivers has risen again, despite another obstacle in his return: an accident that forced him to have surgery on his left hand in Zandvoort. However, with Checo Perez's performance declining, the opportunity looms for the Australian to become the driver of choice to partner Max Verstappen.
"Do you see me in good shape? Thanks, but I actually gained some weight. Last year, with my return to the track, I changed a lot in my preparation. I had to find the desire again, I trained alone and I found love again."
Statements by Daniel Ricciardo on Sky Sports Italia
La VCARB 01, not a copy but an evolution
The love for what he did best, his dream, his sport, was what he had lost in that difficult 2022 and which now, under his legendary smile, seems to have returned stronger than ever. The driver appears happy in front of the cameras with the project with which Visa Cash App RB aims to reach the top 5 in the season, amidst much criticism, some very direct coming from the CEO of McLaren, Zak Brown, accusing the relationship between RB and Red Bull of being able to generate unfair advantages for 2024.
“I feel fit and from the positive sensations I had on the track yesterday. The car is an evolution of the 2023 car. It's not a Mercedes or a Red Bull, it's really an evolution. The car is balanced, but now we need to find more downforce.", the Australian replied, stating that he does not expect an amazing start like Aston Martin's in 2023, but a gradual improvement over the course of the season that makes them fight more and more at the top of the grid.
“To be considered the outsider? Not like Aston Martin last year, but over the course of the season we will improve and be stronger. I'm hoping for a top ten at the start, but it's difficult to think of a podium. Many faces have changed in the team, we need more time together to also find the right speed. It won't be a fairy tale like last year's Aston.“, reveals Ricciardo during the second day of F1 testing.
Ricciardo on Red Bull: “Newey… it's scary”
When asked whether this year's Red Bull can already be declared favourites, with all the surprising news on the single-seater but above all after having seen a hint of its performances with Verstappen's times on the first day of testing, Honey badger replies that we will have to wait to see if the ambition put into the RB20 turns into results in the race, but confirms that the master behind Red Bull's success, Adrian Newey, "is really scary..."
