What’s in a name? No shortcuts for Visa Cash App RB’s Daniel Ricciardo

SAKHIR – Daniel Ricciardo will not be cutting any corners in saying his Red Bull-owned Formula One team’s new name, even if Visa Cash App RB hardly trips off the tongue.

The Italy-based team formerly known as AlphaTauri, and before that Scuderia Toro Rosso and Minardi, start the season in Bahrain this week with new management, closer ties to champions Red Bull and a mouthful of fresh identity.

“I know commentators are like ‘That’s too long’ and whatever, but the truth is they are helping us go racing so I am very happy to call it the full name,” the Australian said on Feb 24.

“I know people are going to shorten it and I’ve already heard RB and whatever. I will say ‘Do as you wish’, but you’ll hear me say ‘Visa Cash App RB’.”

“I know for sure people are saying VCARB (the chassis name is VCARB01) but that sounds like a (energy drink) competitor to Red Bull. It doesn’t sound quite right.”

The name is a talking point for the lack of a clear identity without the title sponsors and also because the team look likely to be getting more mentions than 2023 when they finished eighth overall.

Ricciardo was fourth-fastest on the first day of testing on Feb 21 and fifth on Feb 22.

Some have already suggested RB – an abbreviation of Racing Bulls – could emerge as dark horses but the Australian played that down.

“We believe we can do better than eighth. If people are expecting an Aston (Martin) and (Fernando) Alonso (situation) from last year, and fighting for a podium from race one, we’re obviously not there yet,” he said.

“I’ve got an idea of who’s quick and maybe who’s struggling but... it’s not even that I’m scared to comment on it, the truth is that I’m just still relatively unsure.

“Even if some teams are within a couple of tenths, a couple of tenths could be five positions on the grid. It can swing pretty quickly.”

Ricciardo, who raced for Red Bull between 2014 and 2018 and is angling for a return if Sergio Perez leaves at the end of the season, said the senior team’s new RB20 car had made a big impression.

While Ferrari were fastest in testing, Red Bull still looked like the team to beat with an eye-catching evolution of the winners of 21 of 22 races in 2023.

“They were at the front a decade ago and then saw Mercedes go on this massive run and I feel like they really just want to make an absolute statement not to be overtaken again, or to hold onto this front spot for as long as possible,” said Ricciardo. REUTERS