Visa Cash App RB (formerly AlphaTauri) had a rough start to the 2023 season, being one of the slowest cars on the grid. However, as the season progressed, the team improved steadily with each upgrade package. The arrival of Daniel Ricciardo mid-season was also an enormous boost for the team. And so, from being one of the slowest teams at the start of the season, AlphaTauri finished 8th in the constructors’ standings, missing 7th by a mere three points. However, 2024 is already shaping up like a season where the newly branded Racing Bulls team will emerge as a genuine contender in the midfield. And Daniel Ricciardo couldn’t be more pleased about everything that had happened behind the scenes rather than chasing Max Verstappen!

In its AlphaTauri avatar, Red Bull‘s sister team was not much more than a proving ground for Red Bull’s young talent and a promotional platform for their clothing brand AlphaTauri. However, the new collaborations with prominent players, like Visa and Cash App, show a shift in the mindset of Red Bull. They no longer want their sister team to be in F1 just for the sake of being in F1. With new partners, a new team principal, and a closer-knit relationship between the teams, Racing Bulls are transitioning into serious competitors on the grid. And Ricciardo had his say!

Daniel Ricciardo talks about the atmosphere inside the team

Visa Cash App RB is not merely a rebrand of AlphaTauri, as the team is packing some serious punch as they gear up for the 2024 season. In its new avatar, the team will work much more closely with Red Bull. CEO Peter Bayer and new Team Principal Laurent Mekies will be looking to leverage Red Bull’s success as much as they can when it comes to using transferable components to maximize their performance gains. Parts like suspension and the gearbox assembly will probably be the same as the senior team. Ricciardo spoke about his thoughts in an interview with Lawrence Barretto to discuss the potential. 

“There’s a lot of personnel, as you mentioned, some big partners coming on board. I think obviously the team has always taken itself seriously, but I feel like this is another step up now,” Ricciardo stated. “It’s no longer just a platform for Red Bull Racing. It’s a time for us to fight at the front of the midfield. And of course, some people are encouraged and optimistic, and then others are, ‘Let’s just wait till we get it on track.'”

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He continued, “So you never know and that’s the truth… I feel like there’s something about the team. The mindsets are a little bit different and kind of like a point to prove. So it’s cool coming into it. It’s fun!”

On top of that, the transfer of Visa Cash App RB personnel to Red Bull’s factory at Milton Keynes will further help the team unlock performance. It could result in shared aerodynamic concepts between the two teams. In light of all these changes in the background, Lawrence Barretto recently sat down with Daniel Ricciardo, asking him about what essentially looks like a brand-new team. “We’re hearing about a close relationship with Red Bull this year. You’ve got tons of investment, looking at the number of sponsors… It’s a newer team identity, it feels like an all-around new team almost,” said Barretto.

Visa Cash App RB F1 Team Launch the 2024 Challenger VCARB01 as Fans Rejoice over “Stunning” Livery

It is reasonable to assume that there will be several similarities between the two cars. But just how similar can they be?

Could the Visa Cash App RB turn out to be a case like the ‘Pink Mercedes’?

Teams working closely together are not a new thing in Formula 1. In 2020, Racing Point came out with what was essentially the same design as the 2019 Mercedes car, quickly gaining the name ‘Pink Mercedes,’ and it helped them shoot up to 4th in the constructors’ standing compared to 7th in 2019.

And that’s the genuine concern among many inside the F1 paddock. Sometimes, the closely-knit nature of teams blurs the line between independent teams and their partners. McLaren CEO Zak Brown was one of the few who recently raised concerns about the close ties between Red Bull and Visa Cash App RB, highlighting how such things take away from the fairness of the sport.

Watch This Story: | 9 Months After Making “Cheating” Allegations, Zak Brown Bows Down to Max Verstappen’s Robotic Dominance

Do you think Visa Cash App RB will make a significant jump in the constructors’ championship in 2024? Share your insights in the comments down below.