RB VCARB 01

The Visa Cash App RB F1 Team is a Formula One racing team that made its debut in the 2024 Formula One season.{{cite web |last1=Ostler |first1=Simon |title=Visa Cash App RB launches its first F1 car |url=https://www.goodwood.com/grr/f1/visa-cash-app-rb-launches-its-first-f1-car/#:~:text=Finally!,again%20for%20its%202024%20challenger. |website=Goodwood Road & Racing |access-date=3 June 2024 |language=en |date=9 February 2024}} The team was previously named AlphaTauri and Toro Rosso due to their affiliations with Red Bull Racing as a feeder outfit since 2006.{{cite web |last1=Francis |first1=Anna |title=Everything you need to know about RB for 2024 |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/team-preview-with-a-new-name-and-changes-at-the-top-can-rb-move-forwards-in.5xSmpN5uxvRVAu6D34ucf7 |publisher=Formula One |access-date=3 June 2024 |language=en |date=13 February 2024}} AlphaTauri competed from 2020 to 2023 in Formula One before announcing a rebranding in December 2023 alongside a new deal with Red Bull.{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Luke |title=AlphaTauri F1 team renamed ‘Visa Cash App RB’ for 2024 season |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5223917/2024/01/24/alphatauri-name-visa-cash-app-f1/ |website=The New York Times |access-date=3 June 2024 |language=en |date=24 January 2024}} The new team aimed to improve their competitiveness in the grid, with major sponsors Visa Inc. and Cash App to provide stability in finance and marketing, and a closer technical partnership to Red Bull.{{cite web |last1=Edmondson |first1=Laurence |title=RB launches first car of new era |url=https://www.espn.com.au/f1/story/_/id/39486960/rb-launches-first-car-new-era-las-vegas-event |website=ESPN |access-date=3 June 2024 |language=en |date=9 February 2024}}

Laurent Mekies was the team principal for RB, replacing Franz Tost who retired in 2023, as the team underwent significant operation restructure.{{cite web |title=Alan Permane to make F1 return with RB |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/permane-to-make-f1-return-as-rb-announce-several-technical-and-trackside.4JdzNIIIRLoEM8q2nqPCqA |publisher=Formula One |access-date=3 June 2024 |language=en |date=29 January 2024}} The RB F1 team, which is based in Faenza, Italy, moved part of its operation in Bicester, England into a new facility in Milton Keynes. The team plans to operate the aerodynamics department in the facility by the end of the 2024 season.{{cite web |last1=Kew |first1=Matt |last2=Chinchero |first2=Roberto |title=RB sets end-of-2024 date for new Milton Keynes facility |url=https://au.motorsport.com/f1/news/rb-sets-date-new-milton-keynes-facility/10587444/ |website=Motorsport |access-date=3 June 2024 |language=en |date=15 March 2024}} Mekies stated that RB would utilise the front and rear suspensions and gearbox from Red Bull in addition to the Honda RBPT power unit and engine.{{cite web |last1=Hardy |first1=Ed |title=Which engine does each F1 team use in 2024? |url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/which-engine-does-each-f1-team-use-in-2024-/10598000/ |website=Autosport |access-date=3 June 2024 |language=en |date=13 April 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Barretto |first1=Lawrence |title=Inside the RB revolution as they target ‘bigger prizes’ |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/analysis-inside-the-rb-revolution-as-the-team-gears-up-to-fight-for-bigger.4mbzNKAVdiRx6sU4Ftkier |publisher=Formula One |access-date=3 June 2024 |language=en |date=9 February 2024}}

The drivers' lineup was Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda with Liam Lawson named reserve driver for the 2024 season. All three drivers competed in the previous season of Formula One, earning 25 points to help AlphaTauri finish eighth in the constructors' standings.{{cite web |last1=Barretto |first1=Lawrence |title=Inside the three-way fight for an RB seat in 2025 |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/ricciardo-tsunoda-and-lawson-inside-the-three-way-fight-for-an-rb-seat-in.2UiJWMkopVtzA8HdkAJSLN |publisher=Formula One |access-date=3 June 2024 |language=en |date=11 February 2024}} Ricciardo joined the team in July 2023 to replace Nyck de Vries, who was released after the British Grand Prix, and started in two races before sustaining a broken hand. As a result, Lawson filled in five races for the Australian and made his F1 debut at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix. The predecessor of the VCARB 01, the AlphaTauri AT04, was cited as "one of the worst cars on the grid" by critics in the 2023 season.{{cite web |last1=Seymour |first1=Mike |title=A tale of two halves for AlphaTauri in 2023 |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/end-of-year-report-a-tale-of-two-halves-for-alphatauri-in-tosts-final-season.4Ecx9PlyKjjhcq2cySnuyy |publisher=Formula One |access-date=3 June 2024 |language=en |date=17 December 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Kew |first1=Matt |title=Which F1 team is slowest in 2023? |url=https://au.motorsport.com/f1/news/which-f1-team-is-slowest-in-2023/10442624/ |website=Motorsport |access-date=3 June 2024 |language=en |date=12 March 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Straw |first1=Edd |title=Why one of Red Bull's F1 teams is much slower than the other |url=https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/why-one-of-red-bulls-f1-teams-is-much-slower-than-the-other/ |publisher=The Race |access-date=3 June 2024 |language=en |date=19 July 2023}}

File:RB VCARB01 2024 Chinese GP.jpg

Laurent Mekies signed for RB, then known as AlphaTauri, as team principal in April 2023.{{cite web |title=Ferrari’s Mekies to replace Tost as AlphaTauri Team Principal as Peter Bayer named new CEO |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/ferraris-mekies-to-replace-tost-as-alphatauri-team-principal-as-peter-bayer.6wMKJVATJaPzICpwMfajuj |publisher=Formula One |access-date=4 June 2024 |language=en |date=26 April 2023}} Tim Goss, Alan Permane and Guillaume Cattelani were announced in January 2024 by RB as "key technical hires" ahead of the 2024 season. Permane was responsible for engineering operations on race weekends while Cattelani managed aerodynamics, vehicle performance, and technology on the car.{{cite web |title=Visa Cash App RB F1 bolsters Team with Key Technical Hires |url=https://www.visacashapprb.com/en/vcarb-key-appointments/ |publisher=Visa Cash App RB |access-date=4 June 2024 |language=en |date=31 January 2024}} The VCARB 01, the first Formula One car constructed by RB, was unveiled in a launch event at Las Vegas in February 2024.{{cite web |title=RB pull the covers off their 2024 challenger in Las Vegas |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/first-look-rb-pull-the-covers-off-their-2024-challenger-at-las-vegas-event.3hwiNOjL6QsP8jSkytN64J |publisher=Formula One |access-date=3 June 2024 |language=en |date=9 February 2024}} The car used Honda, as a named engine supplier to Red Bull Racing and RB, the latter since 2023, with both teams' engines badged as Honda RBPT.{{cite web |last1=Beer |first1=Matt |title=Honda back in Red Bull's F1 engine name for 2023 |url=https://the-race.com/formula-1/honda-back-in-red-bulls-f1-engine-name-for-2023/ |website=The Race |access-date=16 December 2022 |date=15 December 2022}}

Critics said the car displayed "some likeness" to the RB18 and RB19 of Red Bull Racing in the last two seasons. RB changed to a pull-rod front suspension, similar to Red Bull, with a different sidepod design in the lower and upper sections to allow more airflow towards the car's rear.{{cite web |last1=Somerfield |first1=Matt |title=Why RB's VCARB 01 is not a straight Red Bull F1 copy |url=https://au.motorsport.com/f1/news/why-rbs-vcarb-01-is-not-a-straight-red-bull-copy/10574271/ |access-date=5 June 2024 |language=en |date=10 February 2024}} The car, at the start of the season, mainly carried modified components from the AlphaTauri AT04 with the aerodynamic design brought in the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix. The upgrades involved a modification of the floor to lower static pressure to the floor edge and increase mass flow under the forward floor.{{cite web |last1=Cooper |first1=Adam |title=AlphaTauri brings major update package to F1 Singapore GP |url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/alphatauri-brings-major-update-package-to-f1-singapore-gp/10520352/ |website=Autosport |access-date=27 June 2024 |language=en |date=15 September 2023}} The drum brake scoop inlets and rear suspensions were also redesigned.

After criticism to Red Bull GmbH, who owns RB and Red Bull Racing, for distributing information between teams, Mekies said the car "is not the Red Bull of last year" and that the shared parts do not benefit in performances.{{cite web |last1=Cleeren |first1=Filip |last2=Chinchero |first2=Roberto |title=RB F1 car "among those which look the least" like 2023 Red Bull |url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/rb-f1-car-among-those-which-look-the-least-like-2023-red-bull/10587430/ |website=Autosport |access-date=26 June 2024 |language=en |date=15 March 2024}} Testing began on 21 February 2024 in Sakhir at the Bahrain International Circuit and went for three days before the Bahrain Grand Prix on 2 March.{{cite web |last1=Bradley |first1=Charles |title=F1 TESTING RESULTS: FULL 2024 BAHRAIN PRE-SEASON LAP TIMES |url=https://au.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-testing-results-full-2024-bahrain-pre-season-lap-times/10579239/ |website=Motorsport |access-date=27 June 2024 |language=en |date=24 February 2024}} Both Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda completed 367 laps in total during the testing period.{{cite web |title=2024 Bahrain Pre-Season Testing |url=https://www.visacashapprb.com/en/2024-bahrain-pre-season-testing/ |publisher=Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team |access-date=27 June 2024 |language=en |date=23 February 2024}}

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The VCARB 01's livery was predominantly painted in blue with red pinstriping overlaid on the white stripes and silver charging bull logos. When the car was launched, some fans mocking the livery as a "tribute" to the Toro Rosso STR14 due to its close resemblance to that car's livery.

The VCARB 01 were also ran on special liveries throughout the season:

• In Miami, the car were ran in a striking pink and orange livery.
• In Singapore, the car were ran in a jeans livery.
• In Las Vegas, the car were ran in a glitter bluish livery. This livery was jokingly referred to the vibes of the Sauber Petronas era days by fans.

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{{F1 cars 2024}}

{{RB Formula One Team}}

Category:2024 Formula One season cars

VCARB01