Jacques Villeneuve criticizes the “baby” drivers, “daddy’s boys”

Jacques Villeneuve never hesitates to give a strong opinion when it comes to discussing current Formula 1. He particularly laments, echoing the recent statements by Fernando Alonso, that today’s drivers lack respect for one another and warns them about the dangers of auto racing.

He stated to the Guardian: “I think back when Formula 1 was really dangerous, I’m talking twenty or thirty years ago, the risk of getting killed was really high and drivers would never have done what is happening between them now. There was an extra dose of respect. There was common sense and a good number of drivers had really worked hard to get there.”

Villeneuve continues his analysis by pushing his reasoning a little further: They weren’t drivers at twelve with funding that helped them race. They had to sweat to get there. They weren’t daddy’s little boys, essentially like today. Now, they drive Formula 1 cars but they are still children. They are babies and they are treated as such.

The last drivers who died in a race trace back to the 1994 season with the tragedy that affected Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna during the San Marino Grand Prix. For Jacques Villeneuve, this situation mainly brings complacency: « We seem to forget, but one day, it will happen, there will be a bunch of new rules and it will be an overreaction. Everyone has fallen asleep to the fact that Formula 1 is dangerous. We think it’s a video game, but it’s not; it’s very dangerous and it’s a very tough sport. »