Yuki Tsunoda’s journey in the 2025 Formula 1 season has been tumultuous, marked by intense scrutiny and high-stakes expectations. After finally securing a seat with Red Bull Racing, Tsunoda’s performance has been underwhelming, as observed by 1997 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve, who has openly criticized his capabilities compared to current star Max Verstappen.
Despite Tsunoda’s tenure with Red Bull’s junior team, Racing Bulls, his transition to the senior team has not been seamless. With only three races in the points and a meager total of seven points, he finds himself languishing at the bottom of the Drivers’ standings for Red Bull-affiliated drivers, far behind his predecessor, Liam Lawson.
However, there is a glimmer of hope. Since Laurent Mekies assumed the role of Red Bull Racing CEO, Tsunoda has shown marginal improvement. Notably, he qualified seventh at the Belgian Grand Prix, although he failed to convert the start into points. His subsequent performance in Hungary saw a reduced qualifying gap to Verstappen, yet it wasn’t enough to break into the points, with Tsunoda finishing a distant seventeenth.
Villeneuve remains skeptical of Tsunoda’s potential, attributing his struggles to an inability to match Verstappen’s caliber. In Villeneuve’s view, the current crop of drivers lacks the exceptional talent seen in previous eras, making Verstappen’s prowess even more pronounced. “Tsunoda has had enough opportunities,” Villeneuve asserts. “His best hasn’t sufficed, and that reality should be acknowledged.”
Despite the criticism, Red Bull is not ready to give up on Tsunoda. Laurent Mekies has emphasized the team’s commitment to supporting him. “Our focus is on harnessing Yuki’s potential,” Mekies stated, underscoring the team’s strategy to nurture Tsunoda’s performance rather than replace him. This approach aims to foster the improvements glimpsed at Spa and to stabilize his results in forthcoming races.
As the season progresses and the F1 paddock buzzes with speculation, Tsunoda’s future remains a topic of great interest. The upcoming races will be crucial for him to demonstrate his ability to compete at the highest level, with Red Bull’s support providing a foundation upon which he can build success.
