Ricciardo happy with team principal Mekies: 'Brings a new perspective'

Daniel Ricciardo is on the eve of the week in which he will (probably) make his first full season at Visa Cash App RB. After replacing Nyck de Vries last year, he fell out injured at Zandvoort. Now it is his time to impress again. Impress the fans, the sponsors but above all, of course, Red Bull.

And he will start that new season under team principal Laurent Mekies who replaced Franz Tost. The first impression of Mekies was at least good according to the Australian: ''I think just his, you know, like in so many situations, sometimes you also just need fresh eyes or fresh perspective or fresh energy. And I think he's really bringing that.'' Ricciardo told GPBlog among other press.

The driver thinks Mekies brings a lot of enthusiasm: ''You know, I think he brings a lot of enthusiasm. He brings a very kind of determined, driven approach, like an open-door policy. So any comments, criticism, feedback, anything he's open for.'' Ricciardo said. Incidentally, this is not the first time Mekies and Ricciardo have worked together. The two met before at Toro Rosso, and now VCARB. Mekies was a chief engineer there at the time.

Maintained Mekies

All in all, Ricciardo is looking forward to a fine collaboration: "And I think he's, yeah, maintained, I think, the right level of kind of approachableness. I don't know what the word is." laughs the Australian. He continues: "But I think he's approached the team with the right mentality. And I've really enjoyed. I mean, I worked with him 10 years ago, and it's nice to work with him again."