The strong connection between VCARB and Red Bull during the era of budget restrictions has generated significant criticism from the community. Max Verstappen and Daniel Riccardo made it clear that the VCARB’s 2024 car is not a replica of the RB19. Red Bull and its sister team, Visa Cash App RB, strengthened their partnership before the 2024 season. They relocated their headquarters to Red Bull’s campus in England and agreed to share and utilize all allowed parts under the regulations governing team alliances.
During pre-season testing, RB’s VCARB-01 showed similarities to the RB 19, which won the championship in 2023, leading to speculation that the new RB car is a copy of Red Bull’s previous car. Ricciardo addressed these speculations during a media interaction, clarifying the differences between the VCARB-01 and the RB-19.
Impressively, the VCARB-01 outperformed Mercedes and McLaren during pre-season testing in Bahrain, with Ricciardo and the team displaying remarkable performance. However, due to their position in the midfield, Ricciardo remains cautious before the Bahrain Grand Prix, with rumors suggesting potential challenges resulting from the expansion of RB’s partnership with Red Bull.
After rebranding in Formula 1, the Faenza-based Visa Cash App RB team faced ridicule from fans and experts. However, Daniel Ricciardo, who had a second chance in Formula 1, remained unwavering in his dedication to the team.
RB faced three main issues with fans: their disregard for suggestions to rebrand as Toro Rosso, which would have been more fitting considering their Italian heritage and Red Bull’s reputation; the team’s long name without a shorter alternative; and the lack of explanation for the initials “RB,” possibly meaning “Racing Bulls.” Despite the chaos surrounding the name, Ricciardo consistently uses the team’s full name.
Currently going through a transitional phase, VCARB is working to establish its identity and transfer operations from Italy to Red Bull’s Milton Keynes facilities. Concerns arise about how management will handle the identity crisis and whether this change will increase the senior team’s reliability.
