Max Verstappen has faced considerable challenges with his Red Bull teammates over the past year, as several drivers have struggled to match his performance. Recently, former Formula 1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve has suggested that bringing an experienced, championship-winning driver into the team could resolve these issues, potentially helping Verstappen maintain his competitive edge.
Red Bull previously featured strong driver pairings, such as Sebastian Vettel with Mark Webber, and Verstappen alongside Daniel Ricciardo. However, in recent seasons the team’s driver lineup has shifted frequently, rarely providing the solid team support Verstappen needs to sustain Red Bull’s dominance.
Challenges with Recent Red Bull Teammates
In the last twelve months, Red Bull’s teammates Sergio Perez, Liam Lawson, and Yuki Tsunoda have all fallen short of matching Verstappen’s level. Villeneuve has voiced concerns that Red Bull needs a teammate capable of competing at a championship-winning level to augment Verstappen’s efforts and keep the team strong.
Villeneuve specifically recommended Fernando Alonso, a two-time world champion, as a possible candidate. The 44-year-old Spaniard has shown a resurgence in form with Aston Martin, earning 26 points over six recent races, suggesting he remains highly competitive against current F1 talent.
It would be good to see a Leclerc next to Max to see how good he really is. Or it’d be good to put Alonso now next to Max, because that’s a known quantity,
Villeneuve said to Vision4Sport.
It’d be good to put Norris next to Max, so we would really see if Norris is exceptional or is he just very good?
Assessing Red Bull’s Strategy for Driver Recruitment
Historically, Red Bull has relied heavily on its junior driver program to fill seats, promoting talents like Verstappen, Lawson, Tsunoda, and Isack Hadjar from their academy. Despite this approach, no Red Bull driver other than Verstappen has reached the podium since Sergio Perez’s fourth-place finish at the Chinese Grand Prix in April 2024. This performance gap has raised questions within the team and the wider F1 community.
Villeneuve pointed out that Yuki Tsunoda’s recent performances have been inadequate, suggesting his frustration is negatively impacting his driving and overall results. He emphasized that Tsunoda has had ample opportunity to prove himself and has not met the team’s expectations.
That would help to quantify things,
Villeneuve explained.
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. It’s that simple and you can’t feel bad for him. He has been given the chance to be in the top team, and he didn’t cut it.
He was promoted to the big league and you can see the frustration. And it’s making him drive even worse because he knows he’s not quick enough right now.
Implications for Red Bull’s Future in Formula 1
The experience surrounding Verstappen’s struggling teammates has intensified questions about Red Bull’s driver selection strategy amid highly competitive Formula 1 seasons. With Verstappen’s extraordinary talent undisputed, the team’s inability to field a reliable second driver could hinder their ability to secure both drivers’ and constructors’ championships.
Bringing in a seasoned world champion like Fernando Alonso could provide the experience and proven capability to better challenge rival teams and support Verstappen. Villeneuve’s commentary underscores the urgency Red Bull faces to strengthen their lineup beyond nurturing young talent, especially when those drivers have not yet proven capable at the highest level.
As the 2024 season continues, Red Bull’s decision on Verstappen’s teammate will likely shape their competitiveness and influence their approach to driver development and recruitment moving forward. With multiple options on the table, the team must balance the immediate need for results with their established academy program’s long-term prospects.
