📢 Former Formula 1 driver Jacques Villeneuve responded to Max Verstappen’s “DISADVANTAGE” in many recent races, saying that if Max Verstappen had made the same mistake, the FIA ​​would have given a heavier penalty than other drivers.

The 2025 Formula 1 season has been a whirlwind of drama, and former world champion Jacques Villeneuve has not been shy about stirring the pot with his candid commentary. Recently, Villeneuve has been vocal about what he sees as an unfair disadvantage faced by Max Verstappen, particularly in the aftermath of a dramatic front-line collision with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli at the Austrian Grand Prix. The incident, which saw both drivers retire from the race, has sparked debate over the FIA’s stewarding decisions, with Villeneuve claiming Verstappen would have faced a harsher penalty if he had been the only one at fault. The claim adds fuel to the ongoing debate over consistency in F1’s stewarding staff and the challenges Verstappen faces in a fiercely competitive season.

The Austrian Grand Prix, held at the Red Bull Ring, ended in disaster for Verstappen, who suffered his first DNF of 2025 after Antonelli locked his rear tyres at Turn 3 and collided with the Red Bull driver’s car. The impact forced both drivers out of the race, a significant blow to Verstappen’s championship as he now trails McLaren’s Oscar Piastri on 61 points. Antonelli, an 18-year-old Italian rookie, was deemed entirely at fault by the FIA ​​Stewards, who imposed a three-place grid penalty for the British Grand Prix and two penalty points on his super permit. While Antonelli was quick to apologise, Villeneuve argues the punishment was lenient, suggesting the FIA ​​would have come down harder on Verstappen for a similar incident. He points to Verstappen’s history of penalties, including a 10-second time penalty and three penalty points for a collision with George Russell in Spain, as evidence of stricter scrutiny of the Dutch driver.

Villeneuve’s argument hinges on the perception that Verstappen, a four-time world champion known for his aggressive driving style, is held to a different standard. He notes that Verstappen’s 11 penalty points over a 12-month period brought him to the brink of a one-race ban, a situation exacerbated by incidents such as the Spanish Grand Prix, where he was penalized for a collision with Russell despite Red Bull’s instruction to concede the position. Villeneuve argues that Antonelli’s error, while acknowledged as unintentional, significantly disrupted Verstappen’s race and championship campaign, but the penalty was relatively light. He suggests that the FIA’s reluctance to impose harsher sanctions on the young Mercedes driver may reflect a preference for protecting emerging talent or a reluctance to disrupt the narrative of a competitive season.

The context of the Austrian GP incident adds weight to Villeneuve’s criticism. Verstappen, starting from P7 after a disrupted qualifying, was already in a precarious position, battling a Red Bull car that has struggled to match McLaren’s pace. Antonelli’s mistake, caused by locking his rear tyres while avoiding Liam Lawson, was deemed a rookie error, but one with significant consequences. The stewards noted that no other cars directly affected the collision, rejecting the typical leniency applied to first-lap incidents. However, Villeneuve argues that the penalty – a grid drop and two penalty points – parks compared to what Verstappen would have faced, citing the Dutchman’s previous punishments for incidents including an unsafe pit-release in Miami and a collision with Lando Norris in Qatar.

This disparity in decision-making has wider implications for Verstappen’s 2025 campaign. With McLaren, led by Piastri and Norris, dominating, Verstappen’s hopes have faded, and incidents such as the Austrian GP crash only widen the gap. Villeneuve’s comments also highlight the pressure on Verstappen, who must navigate a tightrope of avoiding a race ban while competing against a field of aggressive young drivers. The rivalry with Mercedes, particularly with Russell and now Antonelli, adds a further layer of complexity, while tensions from previous clashes linger. Toto Wolff’s interest in signing Verstappen for 2026 further complicates the story, with Villeneuve drawing parallels with Lewis Hamilton’s bold move to Mercedes in 2013, suggesting Verstappen may need to consider a similar leap to secure his future.

Villeneuve’s outspoken defence of Verstappen underscores a wider problem in F1: the consistency of stewardship. While Antonelli’s penalty was not insignificant, the perception that Verstappen is facing more serious consequences for similar transgressions raises questions about fairness. As the season heads towards the British Grand Prix, where Antonelli will serve his grid penalty, Verstappen’s focus will be on clawing back claw points in a championship that is slipping away. For Villeneuve, the Austrian GP incident is a case study in the challenges Verstappen faces – not just on track, but in the FIA’s eyes. Whether this perceived disadvantage will force Verstappen to reconsider his future with Red Bull remains to be seen, but Villeneuve’s comments ensure that the debate will continue to simmer in the F1 paddock.

Related Posts

ESCLUSIVO: Jannik Sinner ha sorpreso tutta l’Italia quando ha annunciato che giocherà in doppio con Emma Navarro, una tennista proveniente dagli Stati Uniti. Ma ciò che ha impressionato ancora di più i fan sono state le condizioni che ha posto, suscitando ammirazione e consenso. La reazione di Emma Navarro ha lasciato senza parole il mondo del tennis e i media: “GLI ITALIANI SONO DAVVERO COSÌ?”

L’Italia è rimasta senza parole quando Jannik Sinner ha annunciato la sua partecipazione al torneo di doppio con Emma Navarro, una tennista americana di grande talento. Tuttavia, ciò che ha…

Read more

“Per favore, perdonate la ragazza” – Le parole commosse della madre di Jasmine Paolini hanno toccato il cuore dei tifosi italiani dopo la sua sconfitta al Canada Open. In lacrime, ha rivelato che la figlia ha affrontato problemi psicologici e di salute prima e durante il match, impedendole di esprimere il suo vero potenziale. “Parlo per far capire a tutti… Vi chiedo di continuare a sostenerla.” La reazione emotiva di Paolini ha sciolto anche i cuori più duri: nessuno è riuscito a trattenere le lacrime.

Il tennis è uno sport che mette alla prova non solo le capacità fisiche ma anche la resistenza mentale degli atleti. Jasmine Paolini, giovane promessa del tennis italiano, ha affrontato…

Read more

Ⓜ️**PER I GUERRIERI CONTRO IL CANCRO!**🎾 Jannik Sinner e Jasmine Paolini hanno sconvolto il mondo dello sport annunciando un torneo di tennis straordinario nella città di Roma, dedicato esclusivamente ai pazienti che stanno combattendo contro il cancro. “Non giocano per una coppa, ma per riconquistare la vita…” Battaglie silenziose, dove il sudore è sostituito dalla chemioterapia, dove i bip delle flebo prendono il posto degli applausi; ogni colpo è un messaggio di forza, ogni racchetta è un simbolo di speranza.

Per i Guerrieri Contro il Cancro: Sinner e Paolini Annunciano un Torneo di Tennis Straordinario a Roma In un gesto che ha profondamente commosso il mondo dello sport, Jannik Sinner…

Read more

⛔ Jasmine Paolini ha rotto il silenzio con un messaggio tra le lacrime. Non ha più voluto nascondere nulla e ha svelato tutta la verità dietro i giorni di tensione e pressione agonistica, in particolare riguardo alla sconfitta shock al Canada Open – qualcosa che nessuno avrebbe mai potuto immaginare! “È arrivato il momento di parlare… Ci sono cose che nessuno sa, ma che hanno cambiato tutto.” – Una sola frase, ma abbastanza per far stringere il cuore a milioni di fan.

Jasmine Paolini Rompe il Silenzio tra le Lacrime: “Ora è il Momento di Dire la Verità” Dopo giorni di speculazioni e silenzi, Jasmine Paolini ha deciso di parlare. Con un…

Read more

Cuando J. Osu dio la bienvenida a su hijo, Roman Reigns de repente envió un regalo misterioso e influyente, dejando tanto a los fanáticos de la sala de nacimiento como a la WWE en un estado de asombro debido a su profundo afecto. ¡Oh, ¿verdad! 😱😱👏🏻👏🏻

Roman Reigns envía sus deseos con un regalo repentino después de que Jay Osu dio la bienvenida a un nuevo miembro de Bloodline En un desarrollo alegre de la continua…

Read more

🚨 Apareció un clip especial entre Roman Reigns y Bianca Biller, lo que hizo que los fanáticos hicieron de los fanáticos en un estado de confusión: “¿Qué está sucediendo? 😱 Ve a ver 👇👇

** Roman Reigns y Bianca Peller en un video invisible mientras estaban en la cama, sus fotos se filtraron en las redes sociales: la verdad se reveló ** Recientemente difundió…

Read more

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *