Daniel Ricciardo: I’m starting the second part of my career

RB drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda summarized pre-season training and explained what they expect from the first stage in Bahrain.

Daniel Ricciardo: “It’s finally time to race! To be honest, I’ve been waiting for this for a long time. Unlike last year, this time I was able to fully prepare for the season. After 2022 I needed time to rest, after which I was happy to get back behind the wheel in the middle of the season, but if we talk about full preparation, then I am much better prepared this year.

I feel like I’m starting the second part of my career. The time I spent away from racing opened up new perspectives for me. I will pay maximum attention to the second chance, but at the same time I will not put pressure on myself. I’m hungry for success and motivated, but I don’t feel stressed and there’s no burden on my shoulders.

Like everyone else, I only had a few hours of testing time behind the wheel of the car this year. It’s normal for a new car to be better than its predecessor, but all that matters is our shape compared to the others. Have we added more competitors? Or have they made more progress? It feels like we’ve really gotten better, but you’re only as good as your opponents let you be.

After the tests I stayed in Bahrain. Together with the engineers, we spent a lot of time studying all the collected data during the three test days, so that we already know what we want to do when we go to the track for training.

I like Bahrain, a good place to start the season. The track is quite difficult and because the surface is abrasive, a heavy load falls on the rear tires. I have good memories of this event, but in Bahrain I never stood on the podium, although I earned a lot of points.

Of course there is something special about the first race of the season. After a break of several months, the sensations become more intense. You can work on the track in a simulator, but the driver doesn’t have the opportunity to practice against 19 of the best drivers in the world. The first race of the year is always exciting.”

Yuki Tsunoda: “We are ready to race after three productive days of testing. The teams were working on different programs, so it’s difficult to say which positions we are in. We worked according to our own plan, focusing on understanding the car. We managed to complete a lot of laps, avoid reliability issues and achieve our goals, which is good. The tests turned out to be very positive: we received answers to many questions in different areas.

I thought it was important to spend time with the team before the start of the season, so I stayed in Bahrain after the tests. My team and I organized a football match – it was fun. We played in the evening when it wasn’t so hot. One evening I had dinner with my engineers and technicians, and the other evening I played golf with my coach and one of the team members from the marketing department.

I wouldn’t say we have made a huge step forward compared to the last race of last season and the testing in Abu Dhabi. This is partly because we have already introduced new products aimed at 2024.

We have done a good job over the past week and the team has come up with the right approach to work with a car that seems to drive well without any tendency towards extreme oversteer or understeer. In the field of mechanical grip we have made a step forward, which can be considered a good starting point for further development.

A lot of new people joined the team in the winter, and I felt that during the tests. I have a feeling of change. Laurent Mekies is similar to Franz Tost in that he is interested in every member of the team. He has a slightly different approach to work, but in a good way. We have always strived for success, but this time our desire feels a little different.

After three days of testing we have a good basis to work on during training and I am happy with my lap times. We focused mainly on the technical side to understand how the car responds to the settings and to identify areas of concern in preparation for the race.

The team has done a lot of testing. Now this week it is important to list all the components and pay more attention to qualifications. On Thursday it is our job to get the most out of the car.

The first race of the season is always a bit special because you don’t know what to expect and how fast the other teams will be. There is definitely some mystery and excitement in all of this!”