MONTREAL (AP) – Daniel Ricciardo let Jacques Villeneuve hear it Saturday at the Canadian Grand Prix, a day after the former Canadian driver suggested he should no longer be in Formula One.
Ricciardo made a statement on the track by qualifying fifth for the young Red Bull RB team and then set his sights on Villeneuve.
“I still don’t know what he said, but I heard that he talks … but he always does,” Ricciardo said. “I think he’s hit his head a few times, I don’t know if he’s playing ice hockey or something.”
Villeneuve, the 1997 F1 champion and son of racing great Gilles Villeneuve, spoke about Ricciardo in a Sky Sports telecast.
“Why is he still in F1?” Villeneuve said. “We’ve been hearing the same thing now for the last four, five years – we’ve got to make him better, poor guy. It’s been five years since then. I’m sorry, no, you’re in F1.
“Maybe you’re doing this for Lewis Hamilton, who has won many championships. You don’t make that effort for a driver who can’t cut it. Can’t you cut it? Go home, there is someone else who can take your place.”
Ricciardo took the last of his eight career F1 wins in 2021. The 34-year-old Australian raced to his first F1 victory 10 years ago in Montreal.
“Obviously, I was very motivated to do more than I did this year,” Ricciardo said. “I know how good those results are, and that’s why I do it, to feel those highs.
“Coming into the week everything felt good. I was very happy to be back at this circuit and driving here because I love it. Today it has been 10 years since the day of my first victory and that day changed my life. So there’s a lot of good feelings that go into it.”
While Ricciardo has not agreed a deal for next season, RB said on Saturday that compatriot Yuki Tsunoda will remain with the team.
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