The world of Formula 1 is once again at the heart of a controversy following the explosive statements of Jacques Villeneuve, 1997 world champion, which accuses the FIA of having manipulated the results of the 2025 championship by sanctioning Max Verstappen than its rivals for the title, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. In an interview with The Action Network, broadcast on July 28, 2025, Villeneuve expressed his frustration in the face of what he described as “unjust and inconsistent” decisions of the FIA, especially after the controversial Grands Prix in Spain and Belgium. His remarks aroused a keen debate, supporters and analysts being divided on the question of whether the FIA deliberately influenced the outcome of the championship to the detriment of the quadruple world champion.

Villeneuve’s accusations relate to a series of incidents during which Verstappen received penalties that it considers disproportionate to the offenses of its competitors. At the Spanish Grand Prix, Verstappen received a ten -second penalty and three penalty points on his license after a collision with George Russell, a decision that Villeneuve described as “amateur”. He argued that Russell, who pushed Verstappen off the track, also deserved a penalty, but that he remained unpunished. “If you have rules, they should apply to everyone,” Villeneuve told Casino Betvictor. He also mentioned the Grand Prix of the United States 2024, where Lando Norris received a five-second penalty for overtaking off-piste, while Verstappen, which, according to Villeneuve, forced Norris to leave the track, received no penalty. This inconsistency, said Villeneuve, cost crucial points in Verstappen in a season dominated by the McLaren MCL39.

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.