Jacques Villeneuve silences his Ferrari criticism after years of fan backlash
Jacques Villeneuve, the outspoken 1997 Formula 1 world champion, has stopped commenting on Ferrari. His decision follows years of sharp criticism directed at the team's leadership qualities. He now wants to avoid the backlash from Ferrari teams' fans who have sent him hate mail in the past.
Villeneuve was a frequent critic of Scuderia Ferrari between 2020 and 2022. During media interviews around race weekends, he questioned the team's leadership qualities and strategy after their struggles in 2020. He also targeted Charles Leclerc's ability to handle pressure in 2021, voicing doubts in press and TV appearances across Europe.
His criticism continued after Ferrari's disappointing 2022 season. The team finished fourth in the constructors' championship without a single race win. Villeneuve often pointed out that Ferrari's high profile makes it an easy target for scrutiny. Now, he has chosen silence. The reason is simple: the hate mail from Ferrari teams' fans has become too much to ignore.
The former champion's decision marks the end of a long period of public criticism. His past remarks covered leadership, driver performance, and team strategy. By stepping back, he avoids further conflict with one of Formula 1's most passionate fan bases.
