28 January 2024 , 11:42
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Daniel Ricciardo has reacted to AlphaTauri's new name change, with the Australian now set to race for Visa CashApp RB in the 2024 Formula 1 season.
The team, which was bought by Red Bull in 2006, was previously known as Toro Rosso before being rebranded to AlphaTauri in 2019. And they have now been rebranded again ahead of the new F1 season, with the team taking their name from new title sponsors Visa.
Although the change has received some criticism from fans on social media, Ricciardo seems unbothered by the switch and is simply looking forward to the new season. "New name, new colours, lezgobaybee," he shared on Instagram.
2024 will mark Ricciardo's first full year back on the grid following his departure from McLaren at the end of the 2022 season. The 34-year-old ended up joining Red Bull as their third driver, before being drafted into replace Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri midway through the season.
And while reflecting on his McLaren exit in an interview with Motorsport.com, Ricciardo called it a "blessing in disguise". He said: "Look, as uncomfortable at times the McLaren situation was, it was a blessing in disguise.
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"Let's say they cancelled my contract because I needed to step away to kind of re-find myself, re-find my love and get the hunger back as well. I think there were a lot of elements that had just been a little bit hurt or bruised from it all, like my drive and my motivation.
"So, I just needed to find that again and that time away gave that to me. I wanted to make sure that I was still able to have other hobbies and interests in life because coming back into the sport it kind of makes it feel as serious as I want to take it.
Daniel Ricciardo has reacted to the name change on social media (Getty Images)"It just made it feel like it's not the be-all and, end-all. So yeah, I did choose to do things and pursue other avenues of life. And also make sure that I've got other passions and interests and not have a fear of retiring one day ultimately.
"So, part of it was exploring a little bit of that, and what keeps me ticking and smiling. There were definitely moments where I just wanted to be alone and just wanted to be in my own thoughts and understand what crossroads I'm at in life.
"And the emotion in me was at times like, 'I don't want to race again''. But I knew I needed time to let that settle and understand truly what my heart desired. And ultimately, I felt like I was getting that answer more and more."