Yuki Tsunoda has found it difficult to find his feet at Red Bull after replacing Liam Lawson from the Japanese GP onwards. The 25-year-old has failed to find pace in the RB21 and is often nowhere near Max Verstappen’s speed. The Japanese Racer has only recorded seven points for his new team and hasn’t scored in seven races.
Tsunoda has admitted that he is struggling to understand the RB21 and doesn’t feel he has the confidence to push the car to its limits yet. However, former F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has no sympathy for Tsunoda and believes that he is the worst teammate Verstappen has had at Red Bull.
Jacques Villeneuve slams Yuki Tsunoda for his Red Bull performances
Yuki Tsunoda last scored a point at the Imola GP. Since then, the 25-year-old has not looked like challenging for points, and often has failed to make it into the final part of qualifying. The 1997 world champion, Jacques Villeneuve, has not held back in his criticism of the Japanese racer.
When speaking to Vision4Sport about Max Verstappen’s teammates, Villeneuve states: “Tsunoda is probably the worst of them all so far. We know that Max is exceptional, but then the drivers next to him have just not been good enough, and there’s no point saying, ‘Oh poor them.’ No, they’re just not good enough. That’s it. They’re barely good.
“And that’s what has happened with Tsunoda. He’s had four or five years of experience already. He’s had his best and clearly, it’s not good enough. That’s it. So, he’s been given this chance and too bad. And he was wanting that chance, he was screaming for it. He was put in and he didn’t cut it.”
Criticism of Tsunoda is understandable considering how Verstappen can extract performance from the RB21. However, there are circumstances to take into account. Tsunoda began the season with Racing Bulls, a team and car he knows well. He was performing well until his switch to Red Bull, where he had to learn a completely new car.
The car’s Red Bull design is always designed towards Max Verstappen. This is the opposite of many drivers’ styles, including Tsunoda’s. Yuki had to adapt to the car and learn a new driving style to compete. His car is also lacking the upgrades that Verstappen’s has, and he will receive them after the summer break. However, Tsunoda needs to start performing, or he could well be out of the seat for the 2026 season.
Laurent Mekies backs Yuki Tsunoda
The new Red Bull team principal, Laurent Mekies, has backed Yuki Tsunoda. Tsunoda performed well last season at Racing Bulls under the stewardship of Mekies, who plans to support the Japanese racer.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the Hungarian GP, Mekies said: “The priority is to give Yuki what he needs to perform. That’s where, with regards to the second seat, that’s where the priority is. It’s what the team is concentrated on.
Yuki Tsunoda Set for Verstappen-Level Red Bull Spec After Summer Break
“They have been trying that for a number of races now. We are trying to find ways together to make a further step. You know, Spa was very positive, certainly from that perspective. there is no reason why Yuki’s performance cannot be what we have seen in the past. And that’s what we are concentrating on right now.”
In Belgium, Tsunoda had the Verstappen specification car and put his RB21 into P7 in qualifying. The race didn’t pan out well for Tsuonda due to a miscommunication regarding pit stops. However, the signs are there that once he gets the upgraded car, Yuki can challenge for points. He needs some positive results to get his confidence back and show what he can do in the Red Bull.
