In Last Word On Sport’s series of 2024 F1 Reviews, we will turn to Visa Cash App RB, who experienced a challenging racing season with drivers Yuki Tsunoda, Daniel Ricciardo, and Liam Lawson.<\/p>\n
The 2024 F1 season presented a challenging year for Visa Cash App RB as the sister team of Red Bull navigated a year filled with highs and lows.<\/p>\n
Entering the season with drivers Daniel Ricciardo<\/a> and Yuki Tsunoda<\/a>, the team retained their Honda RBPT power units, continuing the Honda collaboration that began in 2018 under the Scuderia Toro Rosso banner.<\/p>\n RB finished the 2023 season in eighth place with 25 points scored between four drivers across 22 rounds.<\/p>\n They aimed to succeed further in 2024 and while they did not reach the heights they hoped for, they did finish eighth again with 46 points scored by their three drivers across 24 rounds.<\/p>\n Their largest scoring weekend was Miami where they gained 12 points to their tally. Other notable weekends included Australia with six points scored and Brazil with eight points added to their total.<\/p>\n Yuki Tsunoda scored 30 points, finishing twelfth in the Drivers’ standings. Despite bowing out before the Austin Grand Prix, Daniel Ricciardo scored 12 points, finishing seventeenth while his replacement Liam Lawson finished in 21st place on four points.<\/p>\n To put their season into context, Red Bull’s Sergio P\u00e9rez finished eighth with 152 points.<\/p>\n Tsunoda or Lawson will likely replace him in the main team in 2025. Their performances in 2024 will be assessed and a decision will come into place now that the season has finished.<\/p>\n The opening races highlighted Visa Cash App RB’s struggles to find competitive form. Points were hard to come by, with Tsunoda scoring the team’s first of the year in Australia.<\/p>\n Ricciardo, despite his experience and rumours of a Red Bull<\/a> promotion to replace Sergio P\u00e9rez<\/a>, often found himself in the lower midfield, unable to find consistent performance from the VCARB 01 chassis.<\/p>\n The Chinese Grand Prix, in particular, marked a low point for the team. A chaotic race saw a double retirement caused by incidents involving Haas’ Kevin Magnussen<\/a> and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll<\/a>.<\/p>\n However, the Singapore Grand Prix caused RB’s biggest controversy of the season. This GP was important regarding the Drivers’ Championship fight between Max Verstappen<\/a> and McLaren’s Lando Norris<\/a> alongside the Constructors’ battle between Red Bull and McLaren<\/a>.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/strong>: McLaren\u2019s 2024 F1 Season Review: Ending a Decades-Long Title Drought<\/a><\/p>\n During this time, Verstappen led the standings with 331 points while Norris sat behind with 279 points.<\/p>\n Norris took pole position during Qualifying and led the race from start to finish, securing his third win of the season. This crucial victory earned him valuable points for the Drivers\u2019 and Constructors\u2019 Championships, with McLaren maintaining their lead in the Constructors\u2019 standings.<\/p>\n However, on the final lap, RB pitted Ricciardo for a fresh set of tyres, allowing the Australian to snatch the fastest lap point that Norris had previously held after a time of 1:34.486 was set.<\/p>\n That final lap provided the Red Bull entity with further controversy, following a year of departures and the fallout of a scandal surrounding Christian Horner.<\/p>\n As it stood, Verstappen was guaranteed the 2024 title if he finished second to Norris in the remaining Grands Prix and sprint races regardless of who claimed the fastest lap bonuses. While it did not play out this accurately, the Dutchman did win the Championship, thanks to Ricciardo’s move.<\/p>\n Despite the thrill, fans and grid personnel were displeased by the move. McLaren’s Norris and Team Principal Andrea Stella were vocal about their dislike<\/a> for RB and Red Bull’s relationship.<\/p>\n It is important to note that the FIA found nothing illegal about this. This remains for the 2025 season.<\/p>\n This race also proved pivotal, as Ricciardo departed the team before the United States Grand Prix, making way for reserve driver Liam Lawson<\/a>.<\/p>\n Thank you Daniel \ud83d\udc99 \u2014 Visa Cash App RB F1 Team (@visacashapprb) September 26, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nEarly Season Struggles<\/h4>\n
Sister Team<\/h4>\n
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\n\u2070Laurent Mekies on Daniel: \u201cHe has brought a lot of experience and talent to the Team with a fantastic attitude, which has helped everyone to develop and foster a tight team spirit.\u201d#F1<\/a> #VCARB<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/cqKrbFAehU<\/a><\/p>\n