Jacques Villeneuve Mocks Red Bull's Praise for Tsunoda's 'Least Bad' Weekend

Jacques Villeneuve, known for his unfiltered opinions, has publicly scoffed at Red Bull's commendation of Yuki Tsunoda's performance at the Mexico City Grand Prix, calling it an overprotection of a driver who isn't delivering.

Why it matters:

Villeneuve's sharp criticism highlights a broader debate within Formula 1 regarding driver evaluation, especially for those in the Red Bull driver program. His comments challenge the narrative that teams sometimes spin to protect their assets, pushing for a more objective assessment of performance, which is crucial for future driver lineups and team success.

The Details:

• Tsunoda's Mexico Performance: Despite failing to reach Q3 and finishing out of the points in Mexico, Racing Bulls' team principal Laurent Mekies praised Tsunoda's efforts as "his best weekend in a long time."
• Villeneuve's Disagreement: Villeneuve vehemently disagreed, stating on the Sky Sports F1 Show podcast, "He's still very far off his team-mate. He's not bringing anything to the table either in pace, points for the team, or helping Max for the championship. And he has a lot of experience."
• "Least Bad" Verdict: Villeneuve dismissed Mekies' praise, concluding that Tsunoda's weekend was "maybe his least bad, but it wasn't a good weekend." This cutting remark underscores his view that the performance was far from commendable.
• Experience vs. Quality: Villeneuve also dismantled Red Bull's argument that Tsunoda's five seasons in F1 make him a valuable veteran for the 2026 reset. He argued that "you need good experience," not just experience. "It doesn't matter if a driver has 20 years of racing. If he wasn't good or good enough, he still won't be good enough."
  • He further questioned the logic: "Why would you put a known quantity that you know is not good enough?"
• Advocating for Change: Instead of retaining underperforming drivers, Villeneuve suggested taking a chance on a "young rookie or left-field" option to bring "new energy and a new thought process to the team."

Between the lines:

Villeneuve's direct challenge to Red Bull's assessment suggests a perceived disconnect between the team's public statements and the on-track reality. It implies that Red Bull might be prioritizing sentimentality or long-term investment over immediate performance and a ruthless evaluation of talent, a philosophy that has historically defined their driver development program. His comments highlight the pressure on drivers like Tsunoda to consistently perform, especially when compared to highly touted Red Bull juniors.

What's next:

As Red Bull considers its driver options for 2026, especially for its sister team, Villeneuve's criticisms could fuel the debate. While Tsunoda has shown flashes of brilliance, his inconsistency remains a concern. The emergence of promising talents like Isack Hadjar, who already has a podium in his rookie year in F2, adds further pressure. Red Bull will need to critically evaluate whether to continue with drivers who are deemed "not good enough" or to take a calculated risk on new talent to genuinely improve their overall constructor's performance in the coming seasons.