RB VCARB 01

Yuki Tsunoda driving a VCARB 01 during free practice of the Chinese Grand Prix.
Category	Formula One
Constructor	RB Formula One Team
Designer(s)	Jody Egginton (Technical director) [1] Paolo Marabini (Chief Designer) [2] Trygve Rangen (Chief Designer) [3] Guru Johl (Head of Aerodynamics) [4]
Predecessor	AlphaTauri AT04
Technical specifications
Chassis	Carbon-fibre monocoque and Halo safety cockpit protection device[ citation needed]
Suspension (front)	Multi-link pull-rod actuated dampers and anti-roll bar [5]
Suspension (rear)	Double wishbone push-rod springs, dampers, and anti-roll bar [6]
Engine	Honda RBPTH002 [7] 1.6  L (98  cu in) direct injection V6 turbocharged engine limited to 15,000 rpm in a rear mid-mounted, rear-wheel-drive layout{ [8] [9]
Electric motor	Honda Kinetic and thermal energy recovery systems[ citation needed]
Transmission	Red Bull Technology [10] Hydraulically actuated multiplate [11]
Battery	Honda-Lithium-ion-battery [12]
Power	1080hp (805kW) [13]
Weight	798 kg (1,759 lbs) [14]
Fuel	Esso / Mobil Synergy
Lubricants	Mobil 1
Brakes	Brembo 6-piston aluminium-lithium calipers, Brembo carbon discs and carbon pads [15]
Tyres	Pirelli P Zero (Dry) Pirelli Cinturato (Wet)
Clutch	Hydraulically-activated carbon multiplate [16]
Competition history
Notable entrants	RB Formula One Team
Notable drivers	03. Daniel Ricciardo 22. Yuki Tsunoda
Debut	2024 Bahrain Grand Prix
Last event	2024 Austrian Grand Prix
Races Wins Podiums Poles F/Laps 11 0 0 0 0

The RB VCARB 01 is a Formula One car constructed by RB Formula One Team for the 2024 Formula One World Championship. It is the first chassis built and designed by the team. The car has been driven by Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda since the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix.

Background

The Visa Cash App RB F1 Team is a Formula One racing team that made its debut in the 2024 Formula One season. ^[17] The team was previously named AlphaTauri and Toro Rosso due to their affiliations with Red Bull Racing as a feeder outfit since 2006. ^[18] AlphaTauri competed from 2020 to 2023 in Formula One before announcing a rebranding in December 2023 alongside a new deal with Red Bull. ^[19] 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. ^[20]

Laurent Mekies was the team principal for RB, replacing Franz Tost who retired in 2023, as the team underwent significant operation restructure. ^[21] 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. ^[22] 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. ^{[23] [24]}

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. ^[25] 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. ^[25] The predecessor of the VCARB 01, the AlphaTauri AT04, was cited as the "one of the worst cars on the grid" by critics in the 2023 season. ^{[26] [27] [28]}

Development

Launch and pre-season

Laurent Mekies signed for RB, then known as AlphaTauri, as team principal in April 2023. ^[29] 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. ^[30] The VCARB 01, the first Formula One car constructed by RB, was unveiled in a launch event at Las Vegas in February 2024. ^[31] 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. ^[32]

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. ^[33] 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. ^[33] The upgrades involved a modification of the floor to lower static pressure to the floor edge and increase mass flow under the forward floor. ^[34] The drum brake scoop inlets and rear suspensions were also redesigned. ^[34]

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. ^[35] 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. ^[36] Both Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda completed 367 laps in total during the testing period. ^[37]

Complete Formula One results

Year	Entrant	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	Grands Prix																								Points	WCC
					BHR	SAU	AUS	JPN	CHN	MIA	EMI	MON	CAN	ESP	AUT	GBR	HUN	BEL	NED	ITA	AZE	SIN	USA	MXC	SAP	LVG	QAT	ABU
2024	RB Formula One Team	Honda RBPTH002	P	Yuki Tsunoda	14	15	7	10	Ret	78	10	8	14	19	14														30*	6th*
				Daniel Ricciardo	13	16	12	Ret	Ret	154	13	12	8	15	9
Source:

* Season still in progress.

References