The Visa Cash App RB F1 Team, or as we call them, RB, launched their 2024 Formula 1 challenger in an event in Las Vegas.
The new car, called the VCARB 01, is the 19th to be developed from the Faenza-based outfit, and the first to be presented under their new name Visa Cash App RB F1 Team or RB after a yet another major rebranding process.
The rebranding is not the only change at the new team, as there is now a dual management team at the top, with former FIA man Peter Bayer joining as CEO while former FIA and Ferrari man Laurent Mekies takes over the role of team principal.
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In addition to top management changes, Alan Permane – who was ousted from his Sporting Director role at Alpine midway through 2023 – joins RB and takes up the role of Racing Director.
Tim Goss will also take on the role of Chief Technical Officer in October. Guillaume Cattelani joined the team as Deputy Technical Director, reporting to Technical Director Jody Egginton.
However the drivers remain the same with Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda carrying over from 2023. Ricciardo was called up midseason in 2023 to replace the underperforming Nyck de Vries.
Tsunoda on the other hand has been with the team since he made his F1 debut in 2021, and will be starting his fourth campaign in top flight.
The team had a tough 2023 F1 season finishing eighth in the Constructors’ Standings and scoring 25 points, keeping in mind things could’ve been worse had they not delivered a late season upgrade on their car.
Although there was no live stream for the event, RB shared a video (above) showcasing the team’s new livery, racing suits and driver helmets along with the new car.
Present at the launch were Peter Bayer, Visa Cash App RB’s CEO and Team Principal Laurent Mekies, along with the team;s main drivers Ricciardo and Tsunoda.
Alongside them was Amna Al-Qubaisi, the Emirati who is carrying the Visa Cash App RB colours in this year’s F1 Academy championship.
The VCARB 01
The VCARB 01, features a striking blue color along with white and red with Visa branding along with Hugo Boss and Orlen as the most prominent sponsors on the car.
The new single seater from Faenza is powered by the the Honda RBPTH002 power unit, with the carbon composite monicoque chassis under the name of Visa Cash App RB Formula 1 Team.
The team sourced several components from sister team Red Bull; the front suspension (carbon composite wishbones, pullrod, trackrod, upright assemblies, suspension rockers, spring elements and dampers).
The rear suspension (carbon composite wishbones, pushrod, trackrod, upright assemblies, suspension rockers, spring elements and dampers) is also from Red Bull.
The power assisted steering is Red Bull sourced as well which also applies to the gearbox and the exhaust.
VCARB 01 launch video
