Ricciardo's bold prediction in quest for Red Bull recall

Daniel Ricciardo believes top-five finishes or even the odd podium – albeit only if circumstances go his way – are on the cards ahead of his first full-season after his F1 return.

Ricciardo will once again partner Yuki Tsunoda at the newly-rebranded RB team – formerly AlphaTauri. The squad launched the livery of their 2024 challenger the VCARB 01 in Las Vegas last week.

The 34-year-old Aussie will begin the season with the ultimate goal of earning a recall to the senior Red Bull squad he left at the end of 2018, alongside Max Verstappen.

And he’s confident the team has given him the car to do it. In the off-season, RB moved its UK base to Milton Keynes – alongside the senior team – and also expanded its main headquarters the central Italian town of Faenza.

Daniel Ricciardo believes podiums are a possibility ahead of the 2024 F1 season.

The new car will also use the same suspension and gearbox used by the senior team as they look to improve on their eighth place finish in last year’s constructors championship.

After a disappointing start to the year, mid-season updates made the team more competitive in the back-end of the season. Ricciardo’s 7th place in Mexico the best grand prix finish of the season.

Speaking to F1.com, Ricciardo said he believed the team had taken “another step up”.

“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,” he said.

“I like what’s happened, the changes that have taken place. There’s something about the team, the mindset is a bit different, kind of like a point to prove. It’s cool. It’s fun.”

The team has also hired a raft of new senior personnel.

“You have to aim high, but being in this sport so long, you want to remain realistic as you don’t want to end up ultimately disappointed,” he said.

“Top-fives should be a target and if we get into that position, maybe some podiums present themselves.

“Of course we want to win but … I think we made steps last year, let’s make a few more steps.

“Do I think top-five results are on the table, and could they be on the table in the first half of the season? I’d like to think so.”

Having only re-joined the grid ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix in July, Ricciardo didn’t go through the same off-season preparation as some of his peers.

Despite that, he said he’s “feeling good” ahead of pre-season testing in Bahrain beginning on February 21.

“I didn’t need as much of an off season as everyone else, with a short 2023. It was still nice to go home, but I didn’t need to let my hair down so much,” he said.

“It’s like a pre-season now, I had all that, I had the preparation, I had a bit of a head start last year – so I know the team well.

“Come Bahrain, there’s nothing left on the table. I can’t predict where we’ll finish there, but from a preparation point of view, there’s no more questions.

“The off-season didn’t feel like I was just on the couch. I mentally stayed in it so getting back in the car won’t feel like I haven’t driven for a few months – so I expect to get back into the swing straight away.

“I would say the way we developed the car through the tail end of last season, and we definitely found some things which at first definitely worked for me, and then I think Yuki [Tsunoda] found the strengths in it with his driving style, having a good Abu Dhabi.

“There is a lot to stay pretty upbeat about coming into the start of the year.”

Mexican Sergio Perez is under pressure to keep his seat alongside Verstappen, with many believing Ricciardo could earn a mid-year promotion should Perez suffer a slow start to the year.

Having kept the seat warm during Ricciardo’s spell on the sidelines with a broken hand last season, the Aussie’s promotion would also open the door for young Kiwi gun Liam Lawson to slip into that seat.

The first race of the F1 season gets underway in Bahrain on March 2.