Ricciardo fires back at Villeneuve criticism

MONTREAL, Canada — After securing fifth on the grid for Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix, RB driver Daniel Ricciardo hit back at criticism levelled by 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve earlier this weekend.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ TV, Villeneuve questioned why Ricciardo was still on the Formula One grid, he said: “I think his image has kept him in F1 more than his actual results.”

The Australian’s qualifying result in Canada — just one day after Villeneuve’s comments — was his best of the year for a grand prix and his second best overall behind his fourth place grid slot for the sprint race in Miami.

Asked if he had sent a message to Villeneuve with his performance, he said: “I still don’t know what he said. But I heard he’s been talking s—. But he always does.

“I think he’s hit his head a few too many times, I don’t know if he plays ice hockey or something. But yeah. Anyway. I won’t give him the time of day, but… all those people can suck it!

“I want to say more, but it’s alright. We’ll leave him behind.”

Ricciardo’s qualifying performance followed news earlier on Saturday that his teammate Yuki Tsunoda would remain at RB in 2025.

The Australian’s own future is not yet clear, but he said being in Montreal, where he secured his first F1 victory in 2014, had helped him rediscover his form.

“I’ve obviously been highly motivated to do more than I have been this year,” Ricciardo said.

“Obviously Miami was a bit of a one-off. I know how good those results feel, and that’s why I do it, to feel those highs.

“I think just coming into the week, I don’t know, everything felt right, I was really happy just to come back to this circuit and drive here, because I love it.

“Today is 10 years to the day of my first win, and that day changed my life. So there’s a lot of nice emotions coming into it, and I felt like I was ready to do some good s—.”