Ricciardo sets lofty RB target

Daniel Ricciardo has stated that RB is hoping to compete at the front of the midfield group during the upcoming Formula 1 season.

RB, which competed under the AlphaTauri moniker for the last four seasons, has strengthed its technical ties with Red Bull this year.

The relationship between the pair has been criticised by McLaren CEO Zak Brown, while RB Team Principal Laurent Mekies has defended the collaboration.

As it looks to make strides up the pecking order after finishing eighth in the Constructors’ Championship last year, Ricciardo has his eye on leading the midfield pack before the campaign is out.

“Start of the season, we need to be a little bit cautious,” he said.

“The target as the season goes on is the front of the midfield. But I would say now where we are, it's probably more in the midfield.

“I'm not sure we’re yet at the front, but that is certainly our target.

“I know some people are quite excited about us coming into the season, but I want to play it a little bit cautious.

“We have a decent car, but we still have a lot of work to do, and the numbers we brought for the test, we believe there's still some things to find.”

'VCARB 01 a continuation of 2023 car'

RB underwent an aggressive development schedule in the second half of last season as it upgraded its car right up to the final round of the year in Abu Dhabi.

Despite there being some major changes to its current challenger compared to its predecessor, Ricciardo asserted that it is largely an evolution of the AT04 car.

“It’s a continuation of last year,” Ricciardo said. “Obviously from the outside, it's very different, everything really. But inside the car, it's really an evolution of Abu Dhabi.

“We brought an update for that race and it's really just a continuation of that. Obviously, there's a new chassis and everything. But let's say, the philosophy is still a continuation.

“And I think a lot of other things will change around the team - personnel, the way we run the team and go racing.

“The car felt in a positive way, [it was] quite comfortable because it was similar to last year.”