Daniel Ricciardo opens up on his verbal clash with Jacques Villeneuve at the Canadian Grand Prix.
- Ricciardo was criticized by Villeneuve during the event, sparking a heated exchange.
- Villeneuve questioned why Ricciardo is still in Formula 1, citing his performance over the past few years.
- Ricciardo shared his disappointment over Villeneuve’s comments and used it as motivation.
- The Australian driver has since improved his performance, tallying more points.
At the Canadian Grand Prix, Jacques Villeneuve didn’t hold back, questioning why Daniel Ricciardo is still in Formula 1. Villeneuve noted, ‘We’re hearing the same thing now for the last four or five years, we have to make the car better for him. Sorry, it’s been five years of that.’
Ricciardo, who had only scored points once in the season with a P4 finish at the Miami Sprint, was spurred by Villeneuve’s harsh words. Rising to the challenge, he managed to secure his first Sunday points with a P8 finish in Montreal. However, this wasn’t enough to satisfy Villeneuve. He continued to criticize Ricciardo, calling his response to the critique ‘childish and insulting.’
Villeneuve elaborated on his stance by stating, ‘He’s not lived up to expectations and he’s not consistent so he knows he’s not up to speed and he hasn’t had results that have been good enough. It’s that simple. There’s nothing wrong with saying that. Saying it might hurt but you’re in F1, just take it and move on. The truth hurts.’
Daniel Ricciardo expressed his disappointment with Villeneuve’s remarks but found a way to turn them into motivation. Speaking to Mirror Sport, he said, ‘In Montreal, Jacques was talking some stuff and there were a few things where I had a chip on my shoulder. I was like,
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Alright, if you guys want to test me, let’s go.
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Normally I don’t read it, but the team makes you aware of it, to prepare me for things that have been said. It does work me up… this is a World Champion as well, in Jacques’ case, it’s someone who knows the sport. ,true,500,
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I could comment on other drivers and be like,
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Yeah, he’s gone through a rough patch,
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but I would never talk s**t about someone because I can relate and I know what they’ve gone through. No one can strap themselves and do this, it’s such a rare sport. ,true,500,
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I was more disappointed, but I thought,
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If some people think that way, time for me to remind them that I’m still here.
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I used it to my advantage, but it’s fine. I know people have opinions. I just thought,
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Don’t get agitated, get motivated.
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,true,500,
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Since then, Ricciardo has managed to secure two more top ten finishes, bringing his points total to 12. He acknowledges a turning point in his performance, particularly after Canada, and is optimistic about the future. ‘It’s definitely clicking a bit more,’ he noted. ‘Canada was definitely a bigger turning point. I had the new chassis in China and Miami worked better. I had a couple of not-as-good ones and then in Canada, there was a lot on the line. There was talk already of me maybe losing my seat and I was like,
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Okay, everything I’ve done so far this year, for whatever reason, hasn’t worked the way I wanted – I need to try to change a few things.
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,true,500,
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Ricciardo’s resurgence has been recognized, and he will continue to drive after the summer break. ‘It’s definitely clicking a bit more,’ he reiterated, reflecting on his recent performances and acknowledging his adaptation and progress since the challenging start of the season.
With renewed motivation, Daniel Ricciardo looks ahead to hopefully better performances after a testing start to the season.
Source: Planetf1
