It is a significant achievement for a smaller Formula 1 team to earn points, especially in consecutive races like VCARB did in Australia and Japan. This is noteworthy considering that the top five teams in Formula 1, namely Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, and Aston Martin, usually dominate the top ten positions in terms of points.
Therefore, Yuki Tsunoda’s recent point-scoring performance on his home turf is quite impressive. Prior to the Japanese Grand Prix, he finished in seventh place in Melbourne. At just 23 years old, Tsunoda carries the weight of hard work on his shoulders, while his teammate Daniel Ricciardo, who is 11 years younger and an eight-time Grand Prix winner, struggles to regain his former form that once made him a favorite in Formula 1.
Now donning the VCARB team kit instead of the familiar red of Ferrari, the team’s sporting director, Laurent Mekies, met with selected media during the Japanese Grand Prix weekend. This race holds significance for VCARB due to Tsunoda’s presence and the team’s connection with Red Bull-Honda, which powers their cars.
Mekies, who is 46 years old, is well aware of the pecking order in Formula 1. He acknowledges that whoever is leading the midfield is in sixth place, and currently, that position belongs to VCARB. However, Mekies emphasizes that there is still a long season ahead, and the order is likely to change based on car improvements, track conditions, and the team’s performance during each Grand Prix weekend.
The Frenchman further states that to succeed, a team must develop efficiently and execute their race weekend flawlessly. This presents a wonderful challenge for competitors and brings excitement to the fans. In Japan, VCARB did almost everything right, and their efforts were rewarded with Tsunoda finishing in seventh place.
However, Mekies remains grounded and knows that they must work even harder to maintain their position in the midfield, as the competition will be fierce. He reflects on their satisfaction with sixth place in the pecking order in Australia but cautions that this does not guarantee continued success. Even a slight mistake can result in a significant drop in position, highlighting the importance of constant improvement and attention to detail.
Following the Japanese Grand Prix, Mekies expresses his delight with the team’s performance. He praises Yuki for driving a fantastic and controlled race in front of his home crowd, showcasing excellent tire management and impressive overtaking maneuvers. Mekies acknowledges the team’s strong performance in maximizing their package, including a crucial pit stop and difficult strategic decisions. Although it is only one point in the championship, Mekies recognizes its significance, particularly since all the top five teams had both their cars finish the race. He commends everyone involved in the team, including those in Faenza, Bicester, and their partner Honda, and emphasizes the need to continue pushing hard in all areas to maintain their position at the top of the midfield.
In a striking contrast to his younger teammate, Ricciardo remains an enigmatic puzzle as the 4-0 thrashing he is receiving from Tsunoda in Qualifying this year clearly shows. However, similar to McLaren, Red Bull is endeavoring to revive Ricciardo’s faltering career in the premier league of motorsports.
Following his elimination in Q1 at Suzuka on Saturday, Mekies informed journalists that the team would go to great lengths to provide Daniel with a car that suits his preferred style. They are even willing to replace his chassis for good measure.
Alan Permane, the racing director of VCARB, disclosed, “We have a new chassis on the way, and it makes complete sense to allocate it to Daniel. This decision is not only based on Yuki’s immense satisfaction and comfort with his current setup, but also because we have no preference for either driver.”
Permane further added, “For Daniel, it might be beneficial for him to completely put to rest any lingering doubts about the car.” Unfortunately, Riciardo’s hopes were dashed when he collided with Alex Albon’s Williams just a kilometer from the starting line, prematurely ending his race.
Reflecting on the incident after Round 4 of the 2024 F1 World Championship in Japan, Mekies remarked, “Daniel’s unfortunate mishap on the first lap was regrettable. We were quite vulnerable against our competitors trailing behind us, particularly those utilizing soft tires. These unforeseen circumstances can occur.”
Mekies emphasized, “What matters is that both of our drivers showcased impressive speed here, as evidenced in qualifying.” He commended the solid start made by himself and Peter Bayer, who have taken the reins of VCARB after replacing the long-standing team leader, Franz Tost. (Interview conducted by Agnes Carlier at Suzuka)