The Australian completed Wednesday’s session in fourth general, 1.2s off pacesetter Max Verstappen within the Crimson Bull RB20, however on a par with the McLaren of Lando Norris and the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz.
The staff previously referred to as AlphaTauri has undergone a revamp over the winter, with Laurent Mekies coming in as staff principal and Enstone veteran Alan Permane becoming a member of as racing director.
Regardless of the promising begin to testing Ricciardo doesn’t consider that Wednesday’s place was consultant.
“I believe, begin of the season, we must be a bit of bit cautious,” stated Ricciardo. “I believe the goal because the season goes on is the entrance of the midfield. However I’d say now the place we’re, it is most likely extra within the midfield.
“I am unsure but on the entrance. However that’s actually our goal. I do know some individuals are fairly enthusiastic about us coming into the season, however I need to play it a bit of bit cautious.
“We’ve got an honest automobile, however we nonetheless have quite a lot of work to do, and the numbers we introduced for the check, we consider there’s nonetheless some issues to search out.”
Daniel Ricciardo, VCARB 01
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photos
Ricciardo additionally says an replace package deal used on the ultimate race of 2023 in Abu Dhabi gave the staff some momentum heading into this yr.
“I believe the place we got here in to Abu Dhabi, with some updates, the automobile felt fairly good,” he stated.
“We made just a few extra adjustments, clearly, coming into the season. There’s undoubtedly some positives, however clear that we nonetheless have some lap time to search out.
“I do know it is simply day one. However there’s undoubtedly nonetheless some automobiles which might be quicker than us, not solely the Crimson Bull, however I believe there is a couple others. So nonetheless some issues to search out, however common really feel and stability is definitely okay. So it is now simply discovering a bit extra lap time. However feeling on the automobile is okay.”
Ricciardo’s team-mate Yuki Tsunoda agreed the package deal run finally yr’s finale had been a helpful step in the direction of the brand new automobile.
“We put the upgrades within the final race of 2023,” stated the Japanese driver. “Most of the groups did not do it, and likewise that is how we have been pushing in 2023, so there’s little bit of time to search out the place we are able to enhance.
“And likewise we constructed a brand new staff, we bolstered a whole new staff, new folks, so it is going to take time to develop on the whole, additionally together with efficiency as properly. So hopefully it is going to be higher for the yr. It appears to be like okay. However it’s testing, so it is exhausting to say.”
