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Villeneuve confirms rift with former team Williams

Published on 24 Jul 2017 12:35
6
By: Fergal Walsh

Jacques Villeneuve has confirmed that he has fallen out with Williams. Earlier this month, we reported that the Canadian had been banned from the Williams motor home after he made some bold and highly critical comments about compatriot Lance Stroll.

The 1997 world champion works as a pundit for Sky Italia and has thrown negatives at Lance Stroll all season, branding him "the worst rookie in F1 history". Stroll went on to claim three consecutive points finishes at Canada, Azerbaijan and Austria, with a podium coming in Baku.

Villeneuve has defended his comments and insists he is not bothered about his restraining order: "I am not paid to help the young drivers but to express my opinion," Villeneuve now tells Italy's La Repubblica newspaper. "But before Baku, they let me know I was no longer welcome. I replied that I never insisted that I was."

Williams not ready to discuss drivers

In other news surrounding Williams, the team is not prepared to talk about who will be driving for them next season. While it is expected Stroll will be retained if he can bring through some more cash, Felipe Massa's future is unclear.

"We have decided to let the driver question rest for a while," deputy team boss Claire Williams is quoted by Speed Week. "We currently have a tough fight on the track and do not want this kind of topic as a distraction," she added.

Fergal Walsh

f1fan0101

Posts: 1,804

What an idiot.. Such a bad image he's created for himself

2
Jul 24 2017 - 13:40

F1 News Felipe Massa Lance Stroll Williams

Replies (6)

f1fan0101

Posts: 1,804
What an idiot.. Such a bad image he's created for himself
- + 2
- Jul 24 2017 - 13:40
Hombibi

Posts: 137
He is not that much more outspoken than several on these forums here though... But I agree, what an idiot to create an image for himself that characterizes him only as a vile old man.
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- Jul 24 2017 - 15:29
Nikeros

Posts: 10
Nice to see that someone has the guts to stand up to the elitist privilege bestowed upon a mediocre (at best) son of a billionaire. I'm sure others feel the same way as Villeneuve but are too fearful of the repercussions they might incur by expressing their views. Compare the lackluster skills of Lancie with those of Ocon whose family couldn't even afford new tires for his go kart. Now compare all the press Lancie has gotten with the coverage afforded Ocon. Does anyone else see a slight disparity? Without the money the kid would be racing a soap box.
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- Jul 24 2017 - 18:36
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Mediocre? He has won 3 different racing series, 3 competitive racing series at that, so I'd hardly call him mediocre. Yes, he isnt very impressive at the moment, but he is still just 18 and already have 3 titles under his belt. I think he has potential. Ocon definitely look good, Im not saying anything else, in fact I think he will be F1 champion one day, but lets not bash too much on Stroll. Media coverage can go both ways, and Stroll has had his fair share of critics. And Ocon has had his fair share of money to get to where he is, as has most other drivers in F1. You dont get into F1 without cash nowadays, a sad truth, but truth nonetheless.
  + 0
  
  Jul 24 2017 - 21:57
Barron

Posts: 625
When all is said and done, there's no amount of money that can help you brake, steer and accelerate at exactly the right moments. I had 6 years learning maths at a top school but I am still hopeless at it. For an 18 year old he's doing ok. He's not Max I agree, but he has his own trajectory.
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- Jul 25 2017 - 12:17
Bhurt

Posts: 320
Stroll and Williams brought on the criticisms themselves by rushing the kid into F1 before he was ready. Had he paid his dues in the minor leagues (like all but Verstappen did) instead of having his dad not only buy him a seat but then spend nearly a quarter of a billion dollars on private testing, none of the criticism would have been dealt his way. What did they expect would be said? That the people of Iraq would run out into the streets and greet them as heroes while they dropped bombs on them? Morons are found everywhere. To think he wasn't going to get criticized for every mistake just shows how out of touch those people must be.

He's doing alright now after a very shaky start. And as such, the criticism has largely died down. Even Villeneuve hasn't been too critical of him lately has he? All the quotes printed in articles like this one are from the early part of the season where Stroll indeed drove like the worst rookie of all time.
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- Jul 25 2017 - 18:57