Villeneuve Questions Red Bull's 'Overprotection' of Tsunoda Amid Performance Concerns

Former F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has openly criticized Laurent Mekies' "overprotective" stance on Yuki Tsunoda, following the Japanese driver's 11th-place finish at the Mexico City Grand Prix. While Mekies described it as Tsunoda's "best weekend in a long time," Villeneuve strongly disagrees, highlighting Tsunoda's consistent underperformance compared to his teammate and his failure to contribute meaningfully in terms of pace, points, or championship support for Max Verstappen.

Why it matters:

• Villeneuve's comments underscore a growing debate about driver performance and team management within the Red Bull camp, particularly regarding its junior team drivers.
• The discussion points to the high stakes of F1, where every driver's contribution is scrutinized for its impact on team success and championship aspirations.
• It also raises questions about Red Bull's strategy in evaluating and developing its talent pipeline, especially as it looks towards future regulations and driver lineups.

The Details:

• Villeneuve's Critique: Speaking on Sky Sports' F1 Show podcast, Villeneuve stated that Tsunoda is "still very far off his teammate" and is not "bringing anything to the table" for the team or Max Verstappen.
• Performance Concerns: He suggests that Tsunoda has reached his peak and is now "on the way down," asserting that Mexico was "maybe his least bad" weekend, not a good one.
• Call for Alternatives: Villeneuve argued that if Tsunoda isn't performing now, he won't be good enough to help with new regulations or car development, urging Red Bull to consider a "young rookie or left-field" option who could bring "new energy and a new thought process."
• Red Bull's Stance: Despite the criticism, Red Bull has indicated they are "not in a rush" to decide on their future driver lineup, aiming to give drivers "as many chances as they can have."
• Tsunoda's Future: While a return to Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri) is a "serious possibility," a spot at Red Bull Racing for Tsunoda now seems "entirely off the table," with Isack Hadjar reportedly a leading candidate to join Verstappen in 2026.

Between the lines:

Villeneuve's blunt assessment challenges the often-cautious public statements made by team principals. His willingness to call out perceived underperformance and questioned management decisions offers a perspective that many F1 fans resonate with. The 'overprotection' claim suggests a potential disconnect between internal team evaluations and external, results-driven analysis, especially concerning drivers in Red Bull's extensive talent pool.

What's next:

Red Bull's patient approach to driver decisions indicates they are carefully weighing their options for upcoming seasons, especially with significant regulation changes looming in 2026. The performance of drivers like Tsunoda in the junior team will continue to be under intense scrutiny as Red Bull seeks to identify the best talent to support its championship ambitions and navigate the future landscape of Formula 1.