Jacques Villeneuve debunks biggest Max Verstappen-Red Bull myth

Jacques Villeneuve has shut down claims that Crimson Bull tailor their F1 vehicles to go well with Max Verstappen.

4-time world champion Verstappen continued his dominance over his Crimson Bull teammates in 2025 by scoring 421 factors in comparison with Yuki Tsunoda’s measly tally of 33.

Verstappen got here inside two factors of successful a fifth consecutive world title however finally missed out on the championship to McLaren’s Lando Norris in a three-way showdown within the Abu Dhabi season finale.

The contrasting fortunes at Crimson Bull has led to hypothesis that the group’s vehicles are particularly designed to go well with Verstappen’s driving type.

However 1997 F1 world champion Villeneuve has rubbished such rumours.

“Everyone’s been saying, ‘Oh, however the automobile is made for Max. Poor, poor second driver.’ Truly, no. Max is engaged on it, making the automobile higher and higher,” Villeneuve informed the Excessive Efficiency podcast.

“For those who’re incapable of driving it or determining what the problem is in the course of the season, you may find yourself going slower and slower and slower. Not since you’re truly slower, however as a result of Max will go sooner and sooner. That is since you’re incapable of really understanding what’s going on with the automobile.

“So, clearly, they’ll work with Max and clearly, the automobile will change into undrivable for you. We noticed it with [Sergio] Perez. Yearly, they’d begin the season on par, and that was it. Perez did not begin going slower. Max began going sooner and sooner and sooner.

“Quite simple. As a result of he might truly comprehend what was happening with the automobile. Typically you may have understeer as a result of the entrance is simply too smooth, different occasions as a result of it is too stiff. Another time all of it relies upon what is definitely occurring.

“And in the midst of that, it’s important to add the aero bundle. The nearer you’re to the bottom, the extra grip you might have. So, you want a really stiff automobile. However the stiff automobile mechanically slides.

“So, you want to determine what you want to do to get into that excellent zone the place you drive the automobile, the place the automobile turns into an additional a part of your physique that you do not have to consider it anymore. Only a few drivers can try this.”

Verstappen units document straight

Earlier this 12 months, Verstappen himself addressed the theories.

“I simply adapt to what I’ve bought. It’s not what I like, it’s simply what I’ve,” the Dutchman insisted when talking with Chris Harris on the Ford Efficiency YouTube channel.

“So I’ve to try to drive to it as a result of that’s the quickest approach to go across the observe, however it’s not what I personally would really like. I’d like completely different bits on the automobile.”

Requested whether or not it makes him completely satisfied when he’s praised for his spectacular performances, Verstappen replied: “After all it does, however I’m not doing it to point out the individuals what I’m able to.

“I’m doing it as a result of I wish to be one of the best with myself. I’m fairly in that sense fairly a perfectionist, it’s by no means ok and if I can after all come out of the automobile and say to myself ‘that’s ok’, it’s by no means ok, however fairly good.”