Decisive ten Grand Prix weekends for Ricciardo and Tsunoda

Tsunoda starts the final ten-race stretch knowing he has a deal with Red Bull for next season, while Daniel Ricciardo continues to fight for his career. For both drivers, every race is a 'Cup Final' - Yuki as he makes a case to be a teammate to Max Verstappen at Red Bull should Sergio Perez not find form fast.

While teammate and veteran Ricciardo needs ten big results to prevent being ousted from the grid forever, heading to Zandvoort this is what VCARB drivers and team had to say in the team preview.

Under pressure, Ricciardo is approaching this weekend with a renewed sense of determination. Reflecting on his summer break, he said, "It’s been a great summer break. I got back to Australia to see some friends and family, so I’m feeling recharged, fit, and healthy."

The Australian driver has fond memories of the Zandvoort circuit, despite the unfortunate incident last year that saw his season take a dramatic turn. "Obviously last year it’s where my year turned upside down, but until the accident with Oscar, I was really enjoying the circuit, the car was great around there."

"I’m confident we can continue where we left off before the break, our momentum was strong, and we’re definitely in the fight for some points," Ricciardo stated, underlining his belief that the team has the potential to deliver a strong performance this weekend.

Tsunoda also took full advantage of the summer break to recharge and prepare for the demanding races ahead. "I enjoyed the break and now I’m all set to go racing again," Tsunoda said. The Japanese driver spent his time back home, reconnecting with friends and family. "After that, I’ve been back in Italy, doing a training programme, with plenty of cycling and even some wakeboarding."

With Zandvoort’s tight, twisty track and unique banked corners, Tsunoda is eager to tackle the challenges ahead. "Now it’s time for Zandvoort, a unique challenge... We had a strong finish to the first part of the season, so I want to keep that momentum going from now on," he added, signaling his intent to maintain the team’s upward trajectory.

Jody Egginton, the team’s Technical Director, is also bracing for the tough competition that lies ahead. He highlighted the particular difficulties posed by the seaside circuit. "Zandvoort presents some different challenges, but we have a solid baseline to take in this race, which, combined with a couple of further minor updates, should allow us to continue to fight towards the front."

Egginton emphasized the importance of qualifying well on a circuit like Zandvoort, which is less forgiving than others. "Achieving a good qualifying is very important here," he noted, adding that the circuit’s 14 corners and various cambers, along with the gravel traps, will "punish even the smallest of errors."

As the team prepares for what is expected to be a highly competitive second half of the season, Egginton remains confident. "We expect a tough fight with our closest competitors for points and we are looking forward to the battle in what is going to be a very intense second half of the season."

With the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix fast approaching, the VCARB is fully focused on finding solid momentum and fighting for crucial points in the 2024 F1 championship battle. They are sixth in the F1 Constructors standings, ahead of Round 15 of 24.