Former Formula 1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has openly criticized Max Verstappen, suggesting the Dutch driver may not currently be in the right mental state as Red Bull Racing struggles through a difficult weekend at the Chinese Grand Prix. Villeneuve believes Verstappen’s frustrations with the car are affecting his ability to perform at his usual level.
The weekend has been particularly challenging for Verstappen. After a disappointing qualifying session, he failed to secure any points during the sprint race. Starting from eighth position on the grid, the 28-year-old had a poor launch that dropped him dramatically down the field to 20th place. Although he managed to recover and finish ninth by the end of the short race, the result still left him outside the points and further behind rivals from Mercedes and Ferrari.
In the past, Red Bull has shown an ability to recover from difficult race weekends and bounce back strongly. However, Villeneuve is doubtful that such a turnaround will happen this time at the Shanghai International Circuit. According to the Canadian, Verstappen appears uncertain about how to handle the car and is struggling to provide useful feedback to his team. Villeneuve argued that the car currently feels unpredictable to the driver, leaving him frustrated and unsure of how to push it effectively.
Villeneuve also pointed to significant internal changes within Red Bull over the past year as a possible factor behind the team’s struggles. The former champion highlighted the departure of several key figures who once formed the backbone of the organization, including renowned designer Adrian Newey, former team principal Christian Horner, and advisor Helmut Marko. In his view, losing such influential individuals could be starting to affect the team’s stability and overall performance.
Despite ongoing discussions about whether Verstappen might consider leaving the team if results fail to improve, Villeneuve emphasized that the problem goes beyond simple race outcomes. He believes Verstappen’s biggest frustration is the feeling that he cannot fully control or understand the car. In earlier seasons, even when he lacked pace, the car still responded to his driving style, giving him confidence to fight. Now, however, the lack of responsiveness appears to be creating a new challenge for the four-time world champion—something he has rarely experienced since entering Formula One.
