JUST IN :Ricciardo statement issued after FIERY clash over...

Ricciardo statement issued after FIERY clash over F1 exit

A statement has been issued following the fiery clash between Daniel Ricciardo and Jacques Villeneuve over Ricciardo’s departure from Formula 1. Villeneuve, the 1997 World Champion, sparked controversy earlier this year at the Canadian Grand Prix when he launched a harsh critique of Ricciardo. The Canadian racing legend claimed Ricciardo no longer deserved a place in F1, arguing that his success over former teammate Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull was largely due to Vettel being “burnt out” rather than Ricciardo’s own ability.

Villeneuve’s remarks quickly ignited a strong reaction from Ricciardo, who responded fiercely to the Canadian’s comments. Ricciardo took to the track and produced a solid performance, finishing in 8th place at the Canadian Grand Prix, aiming to silence his critics. Despite this, Ricciardo was later dropped by his team, VCARB, for underperforming in the 2024 season. Following Ricciardo’s exit from the team, Villeneuve addressed the situation publicly for the first time since their heated exchange.

Villeneuve shared his thoughts on the matter, stating, “It never crossed my mind that I wanted to be proven right.” He acknowledged that his comments had stirred both negative and positive reactions, but emphasized that the purpose of his remarks was not to target Ricciardo personally. Instead, Villeneuve hoped to provoke a broader discussion about the realities of Formula 1. He explained, “It got a lot of people discussing the subject openly. It’s not about destroying someone, but rather confronting the reality. I think people realized ‘Okay, Jacques has a fair point, let’s discuss it in depth.’ That’s what I’m happy about.”

Villeneuve further clarified that he didn’t feel any sense of personal satisfaction over Ricciardo’s departure from F1. “My feelings wouldn’t be any different if Daniel Ricciardo stayed at Red Bull,” he said. “I’m not saying ‘Oh, I’m happy now he’s left F1.’ I’m just glad to have brought reality to the forefront.” According to Villeneuve, his comments were meant to spark a meaningful conversation about the state of the sport, not to belittle Ricciardo. He reiterated that Ricciardo still had a respected image and career in F1 and that his comments should not be seen as an attack on Ricciardo’s legacy.

The Canadian also remarked that the debate about Ricciardo’s F1 future had become somewhat distorted, losing focus on what was truly important in the racing industry. “It was a case of saying what everybody was thinking,” Villeneuve added, stressing that the aim was to encourage open dialogue within the sport.

Regarding punditry, Villeneuve acknowledged the difficulty in remaining neutral, recognizing that everyone has opinions, and as a commentator, it’s important to share thoughts that provoke conversation. “When you do punditry, you just try to talk about what is pertinent. It doesn’t mean you’re right,” he said. “We all have feelings which come out. You want to make sure you give enough food for thought so that discussions happen. That’s what I’m glad about.” Villeneuve’s comments shed light on his intentions behind the controversial remarks, underlining that it was never about seeking personal vindication, but about opening up important discussions in F1.