The Formula 1 world was again discredited after an explosive statement by Jacques Villeneuve, the world champion of 1997, accusing the FIA of manipulating the championship results of 2025 by Max Verstappen stricter than his title rivals, Lando Norris and Oscar Piatri. In an interview with The Action Network, broadcast on July 28, 2025, Villeneuve expressed his frustration about what he calls “unjust and inconsistent” decisions of the FIA, especially after the controversial Grand Prix of Spain and Belgium. His comments have fueled a heated discussion, in which fans and analysts are divided on whether the FIA has consciously influenced the outcome of the championship to the detriment of the four -time world champion.
Villeneuve’s accusations focus on a series of incidents in which Verstappen received punishments that he believes are not in proportion to the violations of his competitors. During the Grand Prix of Spain, Verstappen received a time penalty of ten seconds and three penalty points on his license after a collision with George Russell, a decision that Villeneuve called “amateurish”. He stated that Russell, who pushed Verstappen off the job, remained a punishment himself, but unpunished. “If you have rules, they have to apply to everyone,” Villeneuve told Betvictor Casino. He also pointed to the Grand Prix of the United States in 2024, where Lando Norris was given a five -secent sentence for catching up outside the track, while Verstappen, who, according to Villeneuve, forced Norris, received no sanctions. This inconsistency, Villeneuve argues, has cost Verstappen crucial points in a season in which McLaren’s MCL39 is dominant.
The 2025 championship is a neck-on-neck race, with Piastri in the lead with 266 points, followed by Norris with 250 and Verstappen with 185, according to recent updates from GPFans. Villeneuve emphasizes that Verstappen, who drives with a less competitive Red Bull RB21, has to drive “on the limit and beyond” to compete. This led to incidents such as in Belgium, where Verstappen’s fourth place was overshadowed by criticism of the FIA’s decision to postpone the race because of rain, a choice that, according to Villeneuve and Verstappen themselves, disturbed the dynamics of the race. Villeneuve’s claim that the FIA Verstappen rates stricter, is supported by the fact that the Dutchman currently has nine penalty points on his license, only three removed from a racing bid, as reported in The Red Flag’s podcast.
The reactions to Villeneuve’s statements are mixed. On X, Verstappen fans, such as @f1fannl, have embraced the accusations, with comments such as “The FIA plays favorites, Max is always targeted.” However, McLaren-Aanhangers, such as @racingtruth, call the claims “unfounded” and point to the strict controls that McLaren’s car has undergone without violations. McLaren team boss Andrea Stella fiercely defended his team and emphasized that the FIA has approved their car several times. Sky Sports analyst Martin Brundle took a more neutral position and stated that the FIA’s decisions, although sometimes inconsistent, arise from the complexity of driving races under pressure.
Villeneuve’s history with Verstappen is ambiguous. Although he previously praised the Dutchman as a “monster” and “inviolable” in 2023, he also expressed criticism, as in January 2025, when he suggested that Verstappen will “be forgotten” after his F1 career. His current defense of Verstappen, however, seems to come from a broader frustration with the FIA, which he accuses of “political games” that play the championship. He referred to the protest rules, which were tightened after the Grand Prix of Spain to prevent abuse, as an example of reactive rather than fair regulations.
The controversy comes at a sensitive moment, with the Grand Prix of the Netherlands and Red Bull that is struggling with the switch to Red Bull Powertrains in 2026. Villeneuve’s comments have fueled speculations about Verstappen’s future, especially after rumors about a possible switch to Mercedes, as reported by Gptoday.Net. While the FIA remains silent about the accusations, the question remains whether Verstappen’s aggressive driving style or the FIA’s enforcement is the real culprit. For now, Villeneuve’s outburst has further polarized the Formula 1 community, with fans who are eagerly looking forward to the following developments on and next to the job.
