1
Jacques Villeneuve has dismissed claims that fellow-Canadian Lance Stroll is a 'pay driver'.
The 18-year-old will make his Formula One début for Williams next season after winning this year's European Formula Three title.
Although a championship winner in Formula Four as well, he has already been dismissed by some as a 'pay driver', with reports suggesting that Stroll's billionaire father has already spent $80 million on his career to date.
But former champion Villeneuve has hit back, saying Stroll is unlike a vast number of other drivers who have come from money.
"I don't know," he told www.Minute-Auto.fr when asked if Williams' choice was a surprising one. "He arrives with a huge budget and Williams needs it, but also with the F3 title and, on paper, a huge talent. It's not like Pastor Maldonado!"
Stroll wil be the second teenager to enter F1 in recent years, following in the footsteps of Max Verstappen. However, Villeneuve thinks Stroll will have a different experience when he arrives next year.
"We must not forget that Verstappen arrived with Red Bull and could afford to push," he said. "Especially as he has been somewhat protected by the authorities, as we see with the lack of penalties he's had."
"But Stroll comes with financial security, so he can afford to take his time and learn well," Villeneuve added.
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
M. Verstappen
C. Sainz jr
C. Leclerc
Bahrain
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
Australia
Albert Park
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
755,635 comments on Red Bull Racing
968 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Max Verstappen
157,543 comments on Williams 39 members have this team as their favourite Tweets about Williams
Hemex
Posts: 1,307
I diagnose a clear case of bipolar - one days he's on a high, next day it's all lows again. Or did he already regret that small glimmer of normality that he showed yesterday?