Daniel Ricciardo didn’t hold back when addressing Jacques Villeneuve’s harsh words during the Canadian Grand Prix, saying Villeneuve was ‘talking shit’ and had ‘probably hit his head a few times.’
Villeneuve, the 1997 F1 world champion, stirred the pot in Montreal by questioning why Ricciardo, an eight-time grand prix winner, was still in Formula 1. Villeneuve said to Sky, ‘Why is he still in F1? We’re hearing the same thing for the last five years. We have to ‘make the car better for him, poor him.’ No. You’re in F1. If you can’t cut it, go home.’
Ricciardo had a clear answer for Villeneuve’s scathing remarks, achieving a commendable fifth place in the Canadian Grand Prix qualifiers. Speaking after the race, Ricciardo said, ‘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, but I won’t give him the time of day. All those people can suck it. I want to say more but we will leave him behind.’
Apart from dealing with the external criticism, Ricciardo revealed he had been focusing on some introspection and self-therapy following the Monaco weekend. Ricciardo attributed his improved performance to both his RB car feeling more comfortable and a new mindset he adopted after some soul-searching post-Monaco.
Reflecting on his struggles earlier in the season, Ricciardo shared, ‘I was always looking at the on-track stuff, ‘I can brake later here, or do this and that.’ But it was like OK, what are some other things that are affecting my performances? Am I coming into a race weekend not feeling energized or not feeling this or that?’ So I probably had a good bit of self-therapy after Monaco.’
The experience prompted Ricciardo to evaluate his routines and habits away from the track to ensure he was in the best possible mindset for race weekends. ‘I sat back and had a look at maybe the things I am doing wrong away from the track, maybe giving too much time away to people and by the time I get to race day, I’m a little bit more flat. I know it’s in me, so as I said, we are always going to be trying to fine-tune the car but deep down, I know what I can do and it is just making sure I am in the spot to do it more often. Trying to take as much accountability as possible.’
Ricciardo stressed the importance of open and honest discussions with his team post-Monaco. ‘After Monaco, because it was a weekend where I was a bit down emotionally after not doing well on a track I love, with everyone around me, the team, engineers, the inner circle, it was like: ‘guys, open book, constructive criticism, give it to me, where do you think I could clean up, where do you feel I am maybe missing something?’ A lot of it was energy management across the weekend, so it is not even what I am doing in the car. It is just what gets me into the car feeling like I am f**king ready to go.’
Ricciardo came into the Canadian Grand Prix weekend feeling lighter, happier, and more determined. ‘It was just trying to clean up some of those things, and if there was anything on my mind, just get it off my chest. I got into this weekend feeling, certainly a bit lighter and yeah, just hungry and happy and ready to say f**k you.’
Ricciardo’s comments and his strong qualifying performance in Canada underscore his resolve to prove himself on the track. Despite the criticism from Villeneuve, Ricciardo seems to have found a renewed sense of purpose and energy, leading to a better outlook for the rest of the season.
Source: Motorsport
