The least we can say is that Jacques Villeneuve sets off fireworks in his debut on the British channel Sky Sports. The day after his brutal outing on Daniel Ricciardo, Jacques Villeneuve did not back down on his comments towards the 34-year-old Australian in an interview with Le Journal.
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Honest in his incisive remarks, the Quebec driver, world champion in 1997, assures that he has not damaged the veteran who is experiencing problems at Racing Bulls.
“Skinning means you attack someone for free. That’s not what I did. I said what a majority of people see,” he explained while eating a poutine offered in the paddock of the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit.
According to him, Ricciardo no longer has his place in the great F1 circus, because he is no longer competitive. It makes no sense to him that a team should further improve the car for him while he is lining up excuses.
A question of image
Villeneuve also believes that it is the image of Ricciardo, known for his friendly side, which allows him to keep a steering wheel. Since his departure from Red Bull where he “only beat (Max) Verstappen who was 18 years old and who was barely starting for half a season, he has done nothing”.
Indeed, his star has faded. He went from 170 points in 2018 to 6 points in 2023. In the meantime, he drove Renault (2019 and 2020) and McLaren (2021 and 2022) before getting another chance at Red’s sister team Bull, Racing Bulls, last year. We know his close ties with big boss Christian Horner.
This season, despite his experience and his priority, the one who occupies 14th place in the driver standings is unable to get ahead of his young Japanese teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, who is riding in 10th place.
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Several other drivers could suffer the same wrath. But the one who frequently criticized Lance Stroll did not put forward a name even though the 2024 field is identical to last year.
“F1 has become so media-driven that it has taken a lot of power. As there are no more private tests, it is difficult for a young person to enter, because the team does not have time to prepare him. It is a problem.
“It’s just Alpine driving (Jack) Doohan miles and miles to get him ready. It is complicated. And once there is one who is part of F1, he makes an image and normally, he stays.
Difficult? Pardon?
Whatever may be said about Stroll, whose future is unclear, the Quebec pilot does not shed a tear over the various difficulties he has been going through for over a year.
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“He is the son of a billionaire, owner of a team and he drives in F1, it’s not a difficulty in life,” he said after signing a skullcap for an amateur who had addressed him in the paddock. Psychologically, it must be a bit heavy for him.
“But it must be said that lately, he has put himself at the level of Fernando (Alonso), he added. When it rains like it did this weekend, it’s among the best.”
