F1 News: Daniel Ricciardo Lays Out 2024 RB Targets - "Challenge Closer To The Front"
Daniel Ricciardo has outlined his objectives with the RB (VCARB) team for 2024, emphasising a concerted push towards the front of the grid, sidelining any personal ambitions with Red Bull for the moment. The Australian driver is firmly focused on leveraging his current position to enhance the team's performance.
Key Takeaways:
- Ricciardo is concentrating on RB's immediate success, putting aside thoughts of rejoining the main Red Bull team.
- Aiming to boost RB's grid position, Ricciardo hints at the potential for podium finishes as the season unfolds.
- His strategy involves maximising the car's potential and showcasing consistent, strong performances.
Red Bull Press Image
Daniel Ricciardo's journey within the Red Bull family has taken a new turn as he spearheads the efforts of the rebranded RB team. Disregarding the rumblings about a possible return to the Red Bull Racing seat, Ricciardo is channeling all his energy into his current stint with RB. His transition from a reserve role to claiming Nyck de Vries' seat at AlphaTauri, and now leading RB, underscores his adaptability and determination.
The possibility of Ricciardo rejoining the Red Bull Racing lineup has been a topic of speculation, especially with the pressure mounting on Sergio Perez to deliver enhanced performances in 2024. However, Ricciardo's current focus is unwaveringly on the task at hand with RB, where he sees an opportunity to reaffirm his status in the sport and drive the team's ascent in the standings. He stated to the media:
“I think it’s kind of the big picture.
“Sitting here now, at the start of a new season, it’s not something on my mind. It’s respect to where I currently am as well and a long season ahead.
“I think the way I get back to the front of the grid is to try and hustle this car as hard as possible and produce weekends like Mexico and obviously do that more consistently. Then we’ll see what happens.
“But sitting here now, it’s fully focused on where I’m at. Trying to just establish myself again. I feel like I started to do that a little bit last year coming back into the sport but there’s a lot of races this year to try and do that and prove it to myself.”
Red Bull Press Image
Ricciardo continued:
“I’d love to say yes. But the truth is we’re trying to certainly build something right now. I think this is the year when a team really tries to establish themselves and kind of stand on their own two feet.
“And then try to establish a fight towards the front of the midfield. I think podiums are a little bit of a, probably a wish, at the moment, more than maybe a reality but as the year goes on, I think we will progress then, hopefully challenge closer to the front.”