Red Bull Motorsports
F1
Catch up with Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen ahead of the F1 season
With Red Bull Racing launching the RB14 today and winter testing due to commence next week, the team have their drivers back at base and working to be ready for 2018's F1 championship fight.
Read on to find out more about what Red Bull Racing's dynamic duo have to say about the 2018 Formula One season.
Ricciardo is most excited about debuting the RB14 in Australia
© GEPA pictures/ Christian Walgram // GEPA pictures/Red Bull Content Pool
"There’s a good intensity in the team," says Daniel Ricciardo. "Not too excited – we know we've got some work to do if we want to achieve what we want."
Ricciardo gets the honour of giving the RB14 its track debut at Silverstone, but the target of the season's opening race in Australia is what really enthuses him. "I'm looking forward to getting in the car again. You get your head down for testing, but the real exciting stuff comes in Melbourne," he says.
I'm looking forward to getting in the car again. You get your head down for testing, but the real exciting stuff comes in Melbourne
New Tyres
One of the big-ticket items for testing over the next few weeks is the softer and expanded range of tyres on offer from Pirelli. The drivers already experienced the new rubber at the end of season test in Abu Dhabi late last year, but new cars come with new geometry, and last season's data is of only limited value. "You can feel a few things in the characteristics of the tyres," says Ricciardo. "It felt [at Yas Marina] like the overall grip was similar, but it comes in a different way: a little bit more at the start of turn-in but a little less later."
Work on the new Pirelli tyre is needed
© Mark Thompson/Getty Images
Goals
In terms of goals for the season ahead, Ricciardo insists his are more personal than related to performance. "I've got goals that I want to achieve, but I don't necessarily say things like, 'by race three I want to have been on the podium twice and had a pole position'. I don't set goals like that."
Hear more from Daniel Ricciardo in the video below.
I guess the thing for me is that I want to be true to myself and as prepared as I can be for every race. Then I know I'll get the most out of it
Ricciardo still has a lot to prove
© Clive Mason/Getty Images
With six-and-a-bit seasons under his belt, Ricciardo isn't exactly at the veteran stage of his career, but he's certainly reached his prime. The things he's looking forward to in 2018 reflect that.
Competition
"I'm looking forward to competing on Sundays," he says. "Sundays used to be a blur. It was all happening and crazy. Now I'm able to do what I have to do, but [also] soak all of that in. I'm also looking forward to getting some more life experiences. I'm sure I'll travel and see interesting things, meet some new and interesting people."
Daniel always has time for his fans
© GEPA pictures/ Christian Walgram // GEPA pictures/Red Bull Content Pool
The one person he's very keen on reacquainting himself with is team-mate Max Verstappen. "I've missed being competitive," says Ricciardo. "I'm not that competitive with my friends any more when we do stuff, I'm kind of past that point [because] my job is competitive enough. Having Max around keeps me fired-up!"
That thought is reciprocated by Verstappen, though he confesses competitive tends to be his default position, whether it's racing F1 cars or playing FIFA on the Xbox. For him the start of testing can't come soon enough.
"Everybody's happy, everybody's motivated after a strong end to last season," Verstappen says. "Holidays are nice, it's good to charge the batteries, but you reach a point where you want to get going again."
Verstappen is looking forward to the start of season 2018
© Marcel van Hoorn / Red Bull Content Pool
Holidays are nice, it’s good to charge the batteries, but you reach a point where you want to get going again
The good, the bad and the ugly
Verstappen is quite excited about the new tyres, not thrilled to see the Halo and carefully noncommittal about the new rule limiting each car to three engines for the season. "It's interesting to see the new tyre and how it behaves, because nobody really knows. Hopefully they will mix things up a bit," he says. "Three engines? It will definitely be a big challenge. Last year we used six – going to three is half. Hopefully we'll make it, but we'll have to wait and see."
See more of what Max Verstappen has to say in the player below.
Three engines? It will definitely be a big challenge. Last year we used six. Hopefully we'll make it, but we'll have to wait and see
Verstappen expects the RB14 to take another step forward
© Marcel van Hoorn / Red Bull Content Pool
"The Halo will be very ugly," says Verstappen. "I'm not looking forward to that, but hopefully [the rest of] the car will look great, hopefully it will be fast and hopefully it's a good step forwards, and we have a good car from the beginning of the year, not chasing it like we were last year. That's probably the most important thing for us."
