F1 champion predicts first driver sacking of 2025

1997 F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve has predicted Yuki Tsunoda will be the first driver to be dropped from the grid this year.

Tsunoda will compete in his fifth F1 season for the Red Bull sister team this year, lining up alongside rookie Isack Hadjar.

The Japanese driver was snubbed for a promotion to the senior Red Bull squad in favour of Liam Lawson, who will partner Max Verstappen this season at the front-running outfit.

Villeneuve believes Tsunoda’s latest promotion denial will see him leave Racing Bulls at the end of the campaign and does not see anyone else rushing to acquire his services.

“Tsunoda will be the first driver to leave the grid,” Villeneuve told the Action Network. 

“He’s only there because of Honda. At some point this will stop. 

“And the writing is quite clear that this is his last season with the Red Bull family anyway. 

“And I don’t see any team wanting him unless there’s a big Honda push.”

Tsunoda has been loosely linked with a move to Aston Martin in the future, with Honda supplying the Silverstone-based squad with power units from 2026.