The Formula 1 world has once again been embroiled in controversy following an explosive statement from Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 world champion, who accused the FIA of manipulating the 2025 championship results by punishing Max Verstappen more severely than his title rivals, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. In an interview with The Action Network, broadcast on July 28, 2025, Villeneuve expressed his frustration with what he called the FIA’s “unfair and inconsistent” decisions, particularly after the controversial Spanish and Belgian Grands Prix. His comments have sparked a heated debate, with fans and analysts divided over whether the FIA deliberately influenced the championship outcome to the detriment of the four-time world champion.
Villeneuve’s accusations focus on a series of incidents in which Verstappen received penalties that he considers disproportionate to the violations of his competitors. At the Spanish Grand Prix, Verstappen received a ten-second time penalty and three penalty points on his license after a collision with George Russell, a decision Villeneuve called “amateurish.” He argued that Russell, who pushed Verstappen off the track, deserved a penalty himself, but went unpunished. “If you have rules, they should apply to everyone,” Villeneuve told BetVictor Casino. He also pointed to the 2024 United States Grand Prix, where Lando Norris received a five-second penalty for overtaking off the track, while Verstappen, who, according to Villeneuve, forced Norris off the track, received no penalties. This inconsistency, Villeneuve argues, has cost Verstappen crucial points in a season dominated by McLaren’s MCL39.
The 2025 championship is a close race, with Piastri leading with 266 points, followed by Norris with 250 and Verstappen with 185, according to recent updates from GPFans. Villeneuve emphasizes that Verstappen, who drives a less competitive Red Bull RB21, must drive “at the limit and beyond” to compete. This has led to incidents such as in Belgium, where Verstappen’s fourth-place finish was overshadowed by criticism of the FIA’s decision to postpone the race due to rain, a decision that Villeneuve and Verstappen himself say disrupted the dynamic of the race. Villeneuve’s claim that the FIA is judging Verstappen more harshly is supported by the fact that the Dutchman currently has nine penalty points on his license, just three away from a race ban, as reported on The Red Flags Podcast.
Reactions to Villeneuve’s comments have been mixed. On X, Verstappen fans, such as @F1FanNL, have embraced the accusations, with comments such as “The FIA plays favourites, Max is always targeted.” However, McLaren supporters, such as @RacingTruth, have called the claims “baseless” and point to the strict checks McLaren’s car has undergone without any violations. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella fiercely defended his team, stressing that the FIA has approved their car multiple times. Sky Sports analyst Martin Brundle took a more neutral stance, stating that the FIA’s decisions, while sometimes inconsistent, arise from the complexities of managing races under pressure.
Villeneuve’s history with Verstappen is ambiguous. While he previously praised the Dutchman as a “monster” and “untouchable” in 2023, he has also voiced criticism, such as in January 2025, when he suggested that Verstappen would be “quickly forgotten” after his F1 career. His current defense of Verstappen, however, seems to stem from a broader frustration with the FIA, which he accuses of “political games” that distort the championship. He pointed to the protest rules, which were tightened after the Spanish Grand Prix to prevent abuse, as an example of reactive rather than fair regulation.
The controversy comes at a sensitive time, with the Dutch Grand Prix approaching and Red Bull grappling with its switch to Red Bull Powertrains in 2026. Villeneuve’s comments have fueled speculation about Verstappen’s future, especially after rumors of a potential move to Mercedes, as reported by GPToday.net. While the FIA has remained silent on the allegations, 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 eagerly awaiting the next developments on and off the track.
