Daniel Ricciardo is pleased with the change in direction at VCARB
The last twelve months have seen significant change at VCARB, both from a performance and structural perspective. Unlike last season, the Faenza-based outfit is capable of fighting for points regularly, currently sitting 6th in the standings. Meanwhile, the team has been rebranded and changed its approach. According to Daniel Ricciardo, VCARB is no longer a junior team.
Historically, Red Bull are known for their ruthlessness when making driver swaps.
Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly are among the many drivers who were abruptly replaced by the Austrian team.
However, Red Bull are now operating very differently compared to the past.
For example, despite struggling to perform (and even receiving harsh criticism from Christian Horner and Helmut Marko), Sergio Perez remains in the team.
The reigning Champions are also happy to keep Daniel Ricciardo at VCARB – even at the expense of young talent like Liam Lawson.
As ever, the decisions at squad based in Milton Keynes are a source of immense controversy.
Ricciardo supports the new team dynamic
With that said, for Daniel Ricciardo, the changes in the team have been for the better:
“It does feel different, and I think it’s easy to kind of rebrand it and say we’ve got a new look and with this and that. But your actions have to follow.
“And I think Laurent [Mekies], Peter [Bayer], Alan [Permane], a lot of guys that have come in have done that.
“It’s not that what was happening in the past with Franz, in that example, wasn’t the right thing.
“But a change sometimes is good.
“You bring in new ideas. They’ve all spent time in other teams, organisations. And yeah, it’s just a new way of looking at things.
“I think that in itself, and their intentions and the way they go about it, has made people kind of stand up and say – alright, this isn’t a junior team anymore.
“We’re making, kind of, big boy decisions.”
Red Bull must take big decisions
At face value, there are plenty of positives to say about VCARB’s performance this season.
They are sitting 6th in the Championship and near the front of the midfield.
Should they maintain this position, it would be one of their best-ever F1 campaigns.
Ignoring their Red Bull ties, the Racing Bulls can be pleased with their season. Tsunoda and Ricciardo have contributed well to their points tally.
Of course, the situation is more complex for the team led by Laurent Mekies.
As Red Bull’s second team, VCARB’s drivers are inevitably judged by whether they can strengthen the main team.
In the context of Perez’s 2024 results, the choice to keep Tsunoda and Ricciardo in the second team raises big questions.
A driver change seemed inevitable just a few weeks ago.
Prior to the summer break, Helmut Marko emphasised that VCARB was a junior team.
These comments coincided with Christian Horner’s positive comments about Ricciardo after the Belgian GP.
However, in almost traditional fashion, there was another surprise in store at Milton Keynes.
With the future so uncertain, Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda will strive to optimise their performances and improve their favorability – before the cards fall once again.
