1997 F1 and 1995 CART champion, Jacques Villeneuve launched an astonishing, brutal attack on RB's Daniel Ricciardo whilst on duty for Sky Sports on Friday.

Having already hit out at drivers who are forever changing their helmet designs, Villeneuve, who always sported a variation of his legendary father's livery, was none too impressed that Ricciardo's latest lid shows maple syrup appearing to run down the helmet.

The Canadian subsequently launched into an all-out attack on the RB driver.

"Why is he still in F1," he asked his fellow pundits, including former IndyCar racer Danika Patrick.

"We're hearing the same thing now for the last 4-5 years," he continued, "'we have to make the car better for him', 'poor him'. Sorry... it's been 5 years of that. No. You're in F1!

"Maybe you make that effort for a Lewis Hamilton, who's won multiple championships, you don't make that effort for a driver that can't cut it," added the Canadian, his fellow pundits now in awkward silence.

"If you can't cut it, go home," said Villeneuve. "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."

Making his F1 debut with Hispania in 2011, Ricciardo subsequently joined Toro Rosso before being promoted to Red Bull in 2014. Alongside four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, Ricciardo regularly impressed as he got the upper hand on the German.

However, this left Villeneuve unimpressed.

"You all talk about that first season or first two seasons," said the Canadian. "He was beating a Vettel that was burnt out, that was trying to invent things with the car to go win and just making a mess of his weekends.

"Then he was beating, for half a season, Verstappen when Verstappen was 18 years old... just starting. That was it. He stopped beating anyone after that."

Ricciardo shocked the paddock when he left Red Bull for Renault in 2019, a move that was widely thought to be more about the $20m a year the French team was offering. He was subsequently poached by McLaren, which is effectively when the excuses about his car began.

Dropped after two seasons by the Woking outfit, the popular Australian was left without a seat for 2023 but was eventually recalled by AlphaTauri to replace Nyck de Vries. Unfortunately after just two outings he was injured during qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix.

On his return, though much lauded by the likes of Sky Sports, he was regularly beaten by his teammate Yuki Tsunoda.

This year Tsunoda continues to dominate his Australian teammate, however the Faenza-based outfit is expected to retain both drivers.

His name alone meant that F1 couldn't wait to have Villeneuve on board, and he didn't disappoint. Finishing runner-up to teammate Damon Hill in his first season and winning the title the following year.

However, the Canadian subsequently made the shock decision to join his (friend and manger) Craig Pollock in the British American Racing project, a move that arguably accounted for the best years of his career. There were subsequent stints with Renault, Sauber and BMW before Villeneuve quit F1 in search of pastures new.

While there is no arguing that Ricciardo had talent at the start, over the years he appeared to become distracted by outside (business) interests whilst cultivating his 'cheeky chappie' image.

Indeed, Villeneuve believes that it is his image, as opposed to his talent, that has kept him on the grid.

"I think his image has kept him in F1 more than his actual results," said the Canadian.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by equator180, 09/06/2024 7:11

"The truth sometime is very brutal but the facts are there for all to see and many do think Ricciardo has had a bit of a free ride."

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2. Posted by kenji, 09/06/2024 6:29

"To launch such an unsavourable load of bile aimed at Ricciardo is proof of Villeneuve's less than palatable character. Why single DR out?. Maybe there's a connection with Lawson and his management in all of this. He knows that Daniel doesn't ultimately decide who he drives for or even if he drives at all. Those decisions are made by the teams and their governing principals. To attempt to put Ricciardo down in such a manner is uncalled for. Ricciardo puts himself out there and does his very best and I wish him all the success against the odds. The Villeneuves of this world are superfluous to needs and should be denied a platform given that they get away with slinging the merde without any counterpoint. A point that Daniel has alrteady commented on.Why SKY saw the need to utilise his flawed analysis of a successful and much loved driver is worthy of further discussion and debate. 5th starting slot on the Canadian grid is a statement all of its own. "

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3. Posted by Spindoctor, 08/06/2024 17:31

"Maybe true, but unecessary. "

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4. Posted by Burton, 08/06/2024 15:46

"Red Bull re-signing Daniel and Sergio based mostly on commercial considerations. That's what we have to put up with in the "franchise" era. So even broken clocks like JV (and I do like the guy alot) get it right."

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5. Posted by RF1200520062007, 08/06/2024 15:00

"Surprised on my side to see Villeneuve at Sky this weekend… being Canadian and a former fan from the cart days I like it. He was quite snappy in some comments yesterday on top of this one Riccardo but it made a very interesting addition to the Sky team! A bit of unpolitical comments is quite refreshing! Agree with him some drivers need to let some space to new blood. Even if I’m an Alonso fan…"

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6. Posted by Rock Doc, 08/06/2024 14:10

"I agree with the comments and with Jacques. We've been watching Riccardo with rose tinted glasses hoping to see a return to form, but it has been patchy at best. We all wanted the fairy tale for him, but the re-signing of Perez tells us that Red Bull don't believe in his future any more.

Unless he can show some form during the rest of the season, I would not be surprised to see him without a seat for 2025.

Sad but a strong possibility."

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7. Posted by Simon in Adelaide, 08/06/2024 12:00

"Harsh but fair."

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8. Posted by Wokingchap, 08/06/2024 11:07

"Unfortunately Villeneueve's commitments ring some truth, and we've been waiting a long time for better results.....hurts me to say that."

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Villeneuve blasts Ricciardo

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