Former F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve has launched a scathing critique of Daniel Ricciardo, questioning the Australian driver’s continued presence in Formula 1.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve — named after Jacques’ father — Villeneuve didn’t hold back in his assessment of Ricciardo’s performance.
“Why’s he still in F1? Why?” Villeneuve, 53, was questioned during Friday’s practice sessions. “We have been hearing the same thing now for the last four or five years. ‘We have to make the car better for him.’ Sorry, it’s been five years of that. No, you are in F1.”
Villeneuve’s Harsh Reality Check
Villeneuve’s comments were blunt and direct. He argued that the effort to accommodate Ricciardo’s needs was misplaced, suggesting such allowances should be reserved for multiple champions like Lewis Hamilton. “Maybe you make that effort for Lewis Hamilton, who has won numerous championships.
You don’t make that effort for a driver that can’t cut it. If you can’t cut it, go home, there’s someone else to take your place.
That’s how it’s always been in racing; it’s the pinnacle of the sport. There’s no reason to keep going and to keep finding excuses.”
Ricciardo’s Struggles
Ricciardo has struggled this season, failing to finish higher than 12th in any of the eight races for Red Bull’s sister team, Racing Bulls.
The 34-year-old driver, who made his F1 debut in 2011 and won his first race in Canada in 2014, is currently battling to maintain his career in the sport.
Despite having 32 podium finishes in his career, Ricciardo’s recent form has been lackluster, with teammate Yuki Tsunoda outperforming him in all but one race.
Past Successes and Recent Failures
Ricciardo has eight Grand Prix wins to his name but only one podium finish in his last 63 starts, a surprise victory at Monza in 2021.
Villeneuve dismissed Ricciardo’s past successes, suggesting they were against weakened competition. “You all talk about that first season or first two seasons,” Villeneuve said. “He was beating a Vettel that was burnt out, that was trying to invent things with the car to go win and just making a mess of his weekends.
Then he was beaten for half a season [Max] Verstappen when Verstappen was 18 years old, just starting. That was it; he stopped beating anyone after that. I think his image has kept him in F1 more than his actual results.”
A Glimmer of Hope
Despite the harsh criticism, Ricciardo showed some promise during the practice sessions for the Canadian Grand Prix, finishing 11th fastest in Practice 1 and fifth quickest in Practice 2, ahead of Tsunoda on both occasions.
The Canadian Grand Prix is the ninth of 20 races this season and gets underway at 4 am on Monday morning (AEST).
The Bitter Pill of Perez’s New Deal
Villeneuve’s comments came just days after Ricciardo’s hopes of returning to Red Bull were dashed when the team renewed Sergio Perez’s contract for an additional two years.
This move was a significant setback for Ricciardo, who had aspired to reclaim a seat with Red Bull after leaving in 2019.
Despite Perez’s inconsistent performance, which has seen him rank fifth in the drivers’ championship, his four podiums in eight races this season were enough to secure his future with the team.
Ricciardo’s Optimism
Ricciardo, known for his optimism, remains hopeful about his future in F1. “It doesn’t surprise me, and it doesn’t change anything for me,” Ricciardo told Sky F1 regarding Perez’s new deal. “Obviously, my goal, at some point, I’d love to be back there. But I also know that my season hasn’t been spectacular. I had a spectacular moment, I think, in Miami, but otherwise, I’ve been a bit up and down.”
Ricciardo acknowledged his need to improve, stating, “I think already, after the first few races, I was just very focused on trying to do the most I can here. And through that, then I’ll have maybe the most control over my future.
So up until now, yeah, I haven’t probably been remarkable enough, but equally, I am happy being here and just being back in the Red Bull family. So we’ll keep charging forward, and yeah, I don’t think now it means it will never happen. But we’ll see.”
Looking Ahead
As the Canadian Grand Prix approaches, Ricciardo faces a critical juncture in his career. With Villeneuve’s harsh words echoing in the paddock, Ricciardo must prove he still belongs in Formula 1.
The race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve will be a significant test for the Australian driver, who is fighting to secure his place in the sport’s elite.
The Canadian Grand Prix gets underway at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Monday morning at 4 am AEST, where all eyes will be on Ricciardo to see if he can rise to the occasion.
The Information is Collected from Yahoo and Motorsport Week.
