F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve reveals Michael Schumacher 'ENMITY'

Jacques Villeneuve celebrates with the Williams team surrounded by Canadian flags — Photo: © IMAGO

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F1 champion Villeneuve reveals 'ENMITY' with sporting legend

The former champion claims he never had a relationship with one of the GOATs of the sport

Tyler Rowlinson

Sunday 25 February 2024 14:59

Former F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has opened up about how he never had a relationship with seven-time champion Michael Schumacher.

The Canadian joined F1 in 1996 with Williams and was immediately competitive alongside team-mate Damon Hill, finishing second in his first race in Australia and winning his first grand prix in round four at the Nurburgring.

At the time, Schumacher had just joined Ferrari after winning his first two titles with Benetton in 1994 and 1995, but the German was beaten by both Williams the next year.

Jacques Villeneuve won his F1 world championship in 1997

The Canadian revealed how he never had a relationship with Michael Schumacher

Villeneuve: I never had a relationship with Schumacher

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Villeneuve would finish second in the standings in his debut season, with team-mate Hill winning his only world title by 19 points and the year later, he would claim his first and only title in convincing fashion, beating Heinz Harald Frentzen in second by 39 points.

However, Frentzen actually finished third, with Schumacher supposed to finish second just three points behind Villeneuve, but he was disqualified from the world championship after he deliberately collided with the Canadian at the final race in Jerez.

His father Gilles Villeneuve won six races in F1 before his death in 1982

Speaking with BetIdeas, the 52-year-old said: “We never had a relationship. I have had some great relationships in racing and made some very close friends, but I never had one with him. It is a shame because he is one of the greatest.

“I don’t know if we would have gotten along because we were very different personalities. It doesn’t mean we could not have. We just will never know.

“When I got into F1 he joined Ferrari. I was the next big thing without really deserving it, partly because of my dad, who obviously had driven for Ferrari. I think there was some enmity there which didn’t help the relationship.

“Michael was not used to being beaten and was never being overtaken. It started when I overtook him on the outside at Estoril on the last corner the year before. That did not have a good effect on our relationship.”

Ferrari Williams Michael Schumacher Jacques Villeneuve