Miami Herald (Sunday)

Formula One returns down under for the 2024 Australian Grand Prix

- BY ROBERTO JOZEF

Round 3 of the 2024 Formula One season gets underway as drivers make their way down under for one of the fastest courses on the calendar. The Australian Grand Prix kicks off Friday, March 22, and runs through Sunday, March 24, at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne, Australia, with practices, qualifiers and race day all broadcast live on ESPN [US]/TSN [CA].

With a new season comes new challenges, and for the Visa Cash App RB Formula One team, formerly known as Red Bull Racing’s sister team, AlphaTauri, expectatio­ns are certainly higher. RB Formula One made great steps forward in the off-season, including upgrades to the newly branded VCARB 01 front and rear suspension and a gearbox from Red Bull, with the hopes of making some significan­t progress on the grid.

Following the release of driver Nyck de Vries last summer, RB Formula One was able to provide 34-year-old Daniel Ricciardo the opportunit­y to make his return to F1, proving to be a solid choice with Ricciardo going on to earn the team’s best finish last year — a seventh at the Mexican Grand Prix.

The team looks to make big strides this season and with Round 3 about to get underway, Ricciardo is keeping expectatio­ns realistic with the hopes of reaching the top five a few times this calendar year — if all goes to plan.

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