June 8th 2024.
In recent years, Daniel Ricciardo's career has faced its fair share of ups and downs. This weekend's Canadian Grand Prix had Formula 1 fans on the edge of their seats, not just for the race itself but also for what former world champion Jacques Villeneuve had to say about Ricciardo on live TV. As a guest pundit for Sky Sports, Villeneuve has earned a reputation for his straight-talking and often controversial takes on the sport.
Without wasting any time, Villeneuve launched into an explosive rant about the Australian driver, who is known for his charismatic personality and fan-favorite status. Ricciardo's future in F1 has been uncertain ever since Red Bull decided not to renew his contract for the 2025 season, instead opting for Sergio Perez. Once considered a potential champion, Ricciardo's performance has nose-dived since leaving Red Bull for Renault and then McLaren, only to be picked up again by RB, Red Bull's sister-team.
"Why is he still in F1? Why?" Villeneuve exclaimed, expressing his frustration with Ricciardo's recent struggles. "We've been hearing the same excuses for the past five years - 'we need to make the car better for him, poor him.' Sorry, but it's been five years of that. You're in F1, you should be able to perform at the highest level."
Villeneuve went on to compare Ricciardo's situation to that of multiple world champion Lewis Hamilton, stating that the effort to improve the car should be reserved for drivers of his caliber, not for someone who can't cut it on the track. "If you can't cut it, then go home. There's always someone else ready to take your place. That's just how it works in racing - it's the pinnacle of the sport."
The former champion also pointed out that Ricciardo's early success was due to beating a burnt-out Sebastian Vettel and a young Max Verstappen, but that he has not been able to maintain that level of performance since then. "I think his image has kept him in F1 more than his actual results," Villeneuve added.
The shock and surprise of Villeneuve's harsh words were felt not only by the other pundits in the studio but also by fans back home. Many took to social media to express their reactions, with some agreeing with Villeneuve's comments and others defending Ricciardo. However, one thing was for sure - no one could deny that Villeneuve's opinions were brutally honest.
Despite the criticism, Villeneuve remains a legend in the sport, having won the 1997 title in his debut season and nearly doing so again the following year. However, as some fans pointed out, his own career took a nosedive after that, and he never won another race after 1997. Regardless, Villeneuve's words served as a reminder that in Formula 1, results are what matter, and drivers must be able to perform at the highest level to stay in the game.
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