After facing difficulties in keeping pace with teammate Yuki Tsunoda this season, Daniel Ricciardo’s concerns about his car’s performance are set to be addressed with a significant change. Racing director Alan Permane has clarified that the introduction of a new chassis is not a response to these concerns but a planned update.
For the Visa Cash App RB (VCARB) team, ensuring that both their drivers have the utmost confidence in their machines is paramount. This season, Daniel Ricciardo has experienced challenges in matching the pace of his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, leading to speculation about the performance of his car compared to the Japanese driver’s. To quash these doubts, RB Racing has announced a major update to the Australian’s machinery, aiming to restore his confidence.
Alan Permane, RB Racing’s director, has highlighted that the introduction of a new chassis for Ricciardo was part of the team’s scheduled upgrades and not a reactionary measure to the Australian driver’s feedback.
“For me the chassis is a big lump of carbon that we attach the suspension to, attach an engine to, and a gearbox to,” he admitted to Motorsport. “It’s really ever so unlikely that there are performance issues with the chassis.
“However, we have a new one coming through, it makes sense at all levels to give that to Daniel, not least that Yuki is super happy and super comfortable where he is. We don’t have a preference on drivers.
“With Daniel maybe it’s good for him to just put that completely to bed, that there any there any issues with the car.”
An issue with the chassis, such as a crack or something similar, can affect the car’s torsional rigidity. This has often been mistaken for a setup issue, but there have been numerous examples of drivers blaming their chassis for performance issues and being correct. Sebastian Vettel experienced this issue with a Red Bull, for example.
“Sometimes you can measure things, you can put chassis on rigs and check stiffnesses and things like that,” Permane continued. “The reason I say it’s ever so unlikely is because it really is not a performance differentiator.
“A survival cell is what it’s known as in the regulations, it’s there to mount the front suspension off, to mount the engine off, and to keep the driver safe.
The move is part of VCARB’s broader strategy to upgrade their cars: “It’s a happy accident that we have one coming, and it doesn’t make sense to give it to Yuki.
“It makes sense to give it to Daniel, but we’re not bringing a new chassis because of his issues, to clear about that. It is just that it all kind of fits together.”
In addition to the chassis update, VCARB has introduced a revised floor design, initially tested by Tsunoda before being fitted to Ricciardo’s car. This upgrade, focusing on improved downforce, particularly in slower corners, may not have much effect at Suzuka, a circuit known for its fast corners, but is an important step in the team’s development this season.
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