Villeneuve: F1 lacking 'grit' of previous eras
Villeneuve: F1 lacking 'grit' of previous eras
Former Formula 1 driver and world champion Jacques Villeneuve believes that the sport lacks the "grit" of previous eras, and thinks it is important that the right balance is reached between excitement and speed, and the safety of the drivers behind the wheel.
Villeneuve, the son of legendary driver Gilles Villeneuve who tragically died during a race in 1982, has pointed to his own era of racing in the nineties and noughties as a time when the drivers felt completely safe even though the cars were traveling at an extreme pace.
“My era was better because there was still some grit. It was still human," the Canadian told Automobile Magazine.
"But it was safe enough that if you got in a car, you didn’t feel like you were going to kill yourself. It was a good in-between. And it was less politically correct, not like now when nobody says anything.
Villeneuve reckons that the drivers are moved about teams too strategically nowadays, and thinks there is currently a lack driving talent on the scene.
“And now most drivers are owned by teams, and the drivers get moved around like chess pieces. It’s more like a franchise, and I find that a little bit strange.
“And because of that, I think there is less talent out there. Established drivers are being moved aside for younger drivers.”
Villeneuve has one world championship to his name, which he claimed in 1997 with Williams Renault.
MORE: Stroll 'very far' from reaching potential
MORE: Ricciardo: Points deficit to Verstappen doesn't 'show the true picture'
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Will F1 hopeful Antonelli replace Sargeant from Imola?
- 25 minutes ago
F1 News Today: Hamilton dealt major Newey blow as Red Bull chief makes BRUTAL admission
- 1 hour ago
Schumacher reveals how Mercedes could snare Verstappen
- 1 hour ago
Red Bull chief in BRUTAL putdown of key F1 feature
- 2 hours ago
Cullen relationship blossoms with new star after moving on from Hamilton
- 3 hours ago
Hamilton dealt major Newey blow as shock COMPLICATION revealed
- Today 08:58
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860