Daniel Ricciardo faced harsh criticism from Jacques Villeneuve just before the Canadian Grand Prix. Villeneuve’s blunt remarks questioned Ricciardo’s place in Formula 1, saying, ‘Why’s he still in F1? Why?’
Villeneuve’s comments were brutal and direct. ‘We are hearing the same thing now for the last four or five years. We have to make the car better for him. Poor him! Sorry, it’s been five years of that. No, you are in F1. Maybe you make that effort for Lewis Hamilton who has won multiple championships. You don’t make that effort for a driver that can’t cut it. If you can’t cut it, go home, there’s someone else to take your place. That’s how it’s always been in racing, it’s the pinnacle of the sport. There’s no reason to keep going and to keep finding excuses.’
Ricciardo, however, didn’t remain silent. He delivered a strong qualifying performance, securing the fifth-quickest time. In his post-qualifying media session, he responded to Villeneuve, saying, ‘I heard he has been talking shit, but he always does. I think he has hit his head a few too many times. I don’t know if he plays ice hockey or something. I won’t give him the time of day, all those people can suck it.’
Ricciardo admitted doing some self-reflection after the Monaco race, yet it raises the question of why this was needed in the first place. It’s worth noting that he had turned down an opportunity to race in F1 and mutually terminated his deal with McLaren, citing a need to refocus after unsuccessful spells with both the Woking team and Renault.
Speculation about his F1 future heightened when Ricciardo appeared at the 2022 US Grand Prix in Austin, dressed in a cowboy hat and Stars and Stripes jacket, riding a horse into the paddock. It seemed he was ready to ride off into the sunset. His decision to rejoin Red Bull in 2023 in a third-driver and commercial role only added to the questions about his ambition to return to the grid.
Fast forward, Ricciardo got a chance with AlphaTauri as a replacement for the under-performing Nyck de Vries after a successful Pirelli tyre test. Red Bull saw competitive lap times and opted to give him a shot. However, 11 months later, the picture is different. Red Bull secured Sergio Perez for another two seasons and extended Yuki Tsunoda’s contract for another year. Ricciardo remains the only Red Bull driver out of contract for 2025.
His performances have not been impressive enough to secure his spot, and Red Bull’s reserve driver Liam Lawson, who impressed during Ricciardo’s injury absence, is seen as a natural fit. Lawson’s potential, coupled with a ninth-place finish in Singapore, boosts his chances. Ricciardo, in contrast, has only managed to score points at the 2023 Mexico City Grand Prix and the 2024 Miami GP sprint.
While there is no rush for Red Bull to finalize their 2025 lineup, time is running out for Ricciardo to make a compelling case. Whether he even wishes to continue in Formula 1 remains to be seen.
Ricciardo’s reaction to Villeneuve’s criticism might have come too late. With his future in F1 uncertain and younger talents like Lawson waiting in the wings, the next few races could be crucial for the Australian driver.
Source: Motorsport
