Jamie Chadwick says one F1 driver has shown he’s not ‘capable’ of winning a world championship

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Only three drivers on the current Formula 1 grid are world champions – Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso. But several more have shown the potential to win a title.

McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are currently first and second in the standings as they go for their first championship. George Russell has compared himself to Michael Schumacher and believes he’s ready to win the ultimate prize as soon as Mercedes give him the car.

Mercedes see his teammate Kimi Antonelli as a generational talent, though he still needs to justify that label after an inconsistent first season. Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar and Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto have arguably outshone him in the rookie of the year battle.

Charles Leclerc has been called the fastest driver in F1 and, like Russell, will feel that only his machinery has held him back up to this point.

Jamie Chadwick says it’s time for Yuki Tsunoda to lose his Red Bull seat

Hadjar is expected to join Red Bull for 2026. The team say no decision has been made, but Jamie Chadwick doesn’t believe them.

Speaking on the F1 Show, she said it’s ‘quite obvious’ that Yuki Tsunoda hasn’t reached Red Bull standard. Tsunoda has now started more than 100 races but is still searching for his first podium.

His performances alongside Verstappen have apparently shown that he won’t be anything more than ‘a capable Formula 1 driver’. If Racing Bulls don’t welcome him back, he could drop off the grid altogether.

“It seems to be [already decided],” said Chadwick. “It’s quite obvious that Yuki hasn’t performed to this point.

“He’s had a lot of time in Formula 1. He’s definitely a capable Formula 1 driver. Is he a capable world championship winner against someone like Max Verstappen? No, so is there a need for him in that team? No.

“Has Isack Hadjar got more potential? Yes, so they need to make that swap in my opinion.”

Helmut Marko pinpoints the problem Yuki Tsunoda must get ‘under control’

Tsunoda joined the grid in 2021 with the Red Bull sister team, then known as AlphaTauri. He finished in the bottom seven of the championship in each of his first three seasons, but appeared to make a leap last year when he effectively drove Daniel Ricciardo out of F1.

But like Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez and Liam Lawson before him, his stock has fallen significantly in the poisoned-chalice seat next to Verstappen.

As he fights for his future, Helmut Marko says single-lap pace continues to hold him back.

Speaking to Sky Germany after his Q2 exit in Mexico, he said: In qualifying, he’s falling further behind in comparison to normal racing. He still has to get that under control somehow.

If Racing Bulls decide to go with Lawson and Arvid Lindblad, Tsunoda could join Aston Martin as a reserve. His backers, Honda, will supply engines to the Silverstone outfit from next year.