Yuki Tsunoda in Japan

Villeneuve sees a potentially pivotal Tsunoda: 'Then Max can focus on winning'

14:13, 04 Apr

byNorberto Mujica

F1 driver Yuki Tsunoda needs to prove Red Bull Racing they should keep him, thinks Jacques Villeneuve. According to the Canadian world champion, the Japanese may just do that, provided he helps Max Verstappen.

For Tsunoda his first two sessions driving for Red Bull went well. A positive for the Japanese driver, but also for the Austrian team as well, notes Villeneuve in conversation with F1TV.

"Red Bull needs a driver that helps Max develop the car," said the Canadian former driver turned F1 analyst.

Yuki Tsunoda driving the RB21 at Suzuka

"Max cannot do it alone. So they need a driver that drives similarly to him, that can drive a similar kind of car that's [planted] on the nose."

Since 2019 Red Bull have been hindered by not having drivers that can cope with the Dutchman's preference for extremely pointy cars, with Pierre Gasly, Alexander Albon, Sergio Perez and Liam Lawson all failing to even come close to Verstappen's pace, something Villeneuve references.

Max cannot do it alone.

- Jacques Villeneuve on Red Bull Racing's development

"You don't want drivers that are worlds apart in their way of driving. But they need to share the [car development] workload so that Max can focus on winning races."

'Tsunoda is not a Red Bull driver'

Something that the Canadian believes may turn the tide in Tsunoda's favour, as the Japanese driver is keen to retain the Red Bull Racing seat next to Verstappen for beyond the 2025 season, something which may prove difficult, since, after all, he's not a Red Bull driver, Villeneuve says.

"Yuki wants to prove that they should keep him for the future because he's a Honda driver he's not a Red Bull driver."

Franz Tost, former team boss at AlphaTauri, supports the decision to replace New Zealander Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda, criticising the Kiwi's performance, stating that he is simply "too slow". In contrast, he praises Tsunoda for having "incredible natural speed." Read more