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Daniel Ricciardo Responds to Jacques Villeneuve’s Criticism
After Canadian racing legend Jacques Villeneuve suggested that Daniel Ricciardo should no longer be in Formula One, the Australian driver had a strong response. Villeneuve, the 1997 F1 world champion, criticized Ricciardo on a Sky Sports television broadcast, claiming he was no longer suited for the circuit.
However, Ricciardo, who drives for the RB F1 team, showed his skills at the Canadian Grand Prix by placing fifth in qualifying, his best result of the season. After the session, he directly addressed Villeneuve’s comments.
“I still don’t know what he said, but I heard he’s been talking (crap), but he always does,” Ricciardo said. “I think he’s hit his head a few too many times, I don’t know if he plays ice hockey or something.”
Ricciardo, 34, has a successful F1 career with eight Grand Prix wins and 32 podium finishes but has faced challenges in recent years. His last victory was at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, and this season, he has accumulated five points for a fourth-place finish in a sprint race in Miami.
Villeneuve’s Harsh Criticism
Villeneuve’s comments sparked controversy on social media as he questioned Ricciardo’s place in F1 despite his past accomplishments. He suggested that Ricciardo had not performed at a high enough level in recent years to justify his continued presence in the sport.
“Why is he still in F1?” Villeneuve said. “We’re hearing the same thing now for the last four, five years — we have to make it better for him, poor him. It’s been five years of that. Sorry, no, you’re in F1. Maybe you make that effort for Lewis Hamilton, who’s won multiple championships. You don’t make that effort for a driver that can’t cut it. Can’t cut it? Go home, there’s someone else who can take your place.”
Villeneuve also downplayed Ricciardo’s success at Red Bull, suggesting that his victories came when his teammates were not at their best.
“You all talk about that first season or first two seasons, he was beating a Vettel that was burned out,” Villeneuve said. “Then he was beating for half a season Verstappen when he was 18 years old, just starting. Then that was it. He stopped beating anyone after that.”
Additionally, Villeneuve implied that Ricciardo’s charismatic personality was more responsible for his continued presence in F1 than his on-track performance.
“His image has kept him in F1 more than his actual result,” Villeneuve said.
Despite the criticism, Ricciardo’s strong showing at the Canadian Grand Prix demonstrated his determination and skill as a driver, especially on the 10th anniversary of his first F1 victory.
“I’ve obviously been highly motivated to do more than I have been this year,” Ricciardo said. “I know how good those results feel, and that’s why I do it, to feel those highs. Coming into the week everything felt right. I was really happy to come back to this circuit and drive here because I love it. Today’s 10 years to the day of my first win, and that day changed my life. So there’s just a lot of nice emotions coming into it.”
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