Jacques Villeneuve, former Formula 1 champion, has stated that Yuki Tsunoda is likely the worst teammate Max Verstappen has had so far. The 54-year-old made these remarks following the Hungarian Grand Prix, expressing his frustration with Tsunoda’s performance in comparison to Verstappen.
Villeneuve spoke with Vision4sport about Verstappen’s recent teammates and shared his opinion that Tsunoda has been the most disappointing among them. He emphasized the contrast between Verstappen’s input to his team and the results Tsunoda has produced.
“Tsunoda is probably the worst of them all so far. A lot of people say it’s unfair that the car is made for Max. But Max might be the only one who actually gives good feedback to the team. So yes, they develop the car, so it gets better and better for him.”
—Jacques Villeneuve, Former F1 Champion
Tsunoda was promoted to Red Bull Racing earlier this season, replacing Liam Lawson just before the Japanese Grand Prix after Lawson failed to meet expectations in the first two races. Despite past success as a Japanese F4 champion, Tsunoda’s time at Red Bull Racing has unfolded disappointingly.
Since partnering with Verstappen, Tsunoda has only scored points in three events, with his best finish being ninth place at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Currently, he is enduring a streak of seven races without scoring points. His most recent performance at the Hungarian Grand Prix was another setback, as he was eliminated early and ultimately finished in 17th place.
Yuki Tsunoda’s Response on Measuring Up to Verstappen
During the British Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone, Tsunoda addressed questions about his ability to match Verstappen’s level within the team. Entering the race after four straight events without points, Tsunoda’s future and capacity to compete at Verstappen’s standard were under scrutiny.
He acknowledged the challenge of adapting quickly to the Red Bull car, pointing out that no driver has immediately found perfection, especially in short runs. Tsunoda emphasized his ongoing efforts to improve and adapt his driving style to meet the team‘s expectations.
“It depends on the driver, but so far, I haven’t seen anyone who’s been able to adapt to the car immediately. That seems to be a fact. At least on short runs, I feel like I’m heading in the right direction.”
—Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Driver
“…I’m confident I can reach the level they expect. That’s what I’m working on. The long runs are where I’m still struggling. I’ve identified some driving styles to try, things I’ve never done before in my Formula 1 career. It’s a learning process. When the conditions change every session, I might take more time to adapt than I did at VCARB, where I could push flat-out from the first lap.”
—Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Driver
Historically, Verstappen has dominated his teammates since joining Formula 1 in 2015. Sergio Perez, a Mexican driver, was released from Red Bull Racing at the end of the 2024 campaign, largely due to his underwhelming form and inability to match the four-time world champion’s performance. Tsunoda and Lawson, who replaced Perez earlier, have both fallen short of improving on that benchmark.
Villeneuve’s criticism highlights the persistent struggle within Red Bull Racing to find a teammate who can challenge Verstappen’s pace and consistency. As Tsunoda continues to adapt, the upcoming races will be crucial in determining whether he can bridge the growing performance gap or remain overshadowed by Verstappen’s dominance.