P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Daniel Ricciardo drew the ire of 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix.
Jacques Villeneuve harshly criticized Daniel Ricciardo’s Formula 1 career, pointing out that excuses had been made for the Australian driver for many years. Ricciardo’s performance has declined since leaving Red Bull for Renault in 2019, and he has struggled to make an impact at both McLaren and AlphaTauri/RB. Despite a brief resurgence at RB in 2023, Ricciardo has been overshadowed by teammate Yuki Tsunoda in 2024, raising doubts about his future in F1. Villeneuve questioned Ricciardo’s continued presence in F1, emphasizing the importance of performance over image in the sport. The 1997 world champion suggested that Ricciardo’s popularity and media presence might be the reasons for his prolonged stay in F1, rather than his on-track results.
