Jacques Villeneuve has dismissed suggestions that Red Bull designs its Formula 1 car specifically for Max Verstappen. Despite Verstappen’s dominant 2025 season with 421 points, far outpacing teammate Hiroki Tsunoda’s 33 points, Villeneuve argues the car is not tailored solely to Verstappen’s driving style. Verstappen narrowly missed out on a fifth straight world championship, losing to McLaren’s Lando Norris in a dramatic finale in Abu Dhabi.
Villeneuve explained on the High Performance Podcast that while the team naturally works closely with Verstappen, it’s Verstappen’s ability to continuously improve the car and understand its nuances that makes the difference. He noted how teammate Sergio Perez experienced similar challenges, as Verstappen’s deep understanding of the car allows him to get faster, while others struggle to keep up.
The dynamics of car setup involve balancing mechanical stiffness and aerodynamic grip, which create a delicate driving experience that few drivers can master by making the car feel like an extension of their body. Verstappen himself acknowledged earlier in the year that he adapts to the car as it is, even if it’s not his ideal setup, emphasizing his constant pursuit of perfection rather than external validation.
Fan Take: This insight from Villeneuve and Verstappen sheds light on why driver skill and car development go hand-in-hand in F1—it’s not just about having the best car, but how a driver adapts and evolves it. For racing fans, it emphasizes the depth of competition and innovation behind every race, hinting that success in F1 depends as much on understanding and adapting as raw speed.
