Jacques Villeneuve has claimed that ‘nobody would care’ if Max Verstappen was taken away from the F1 grid while arguing that Lewis Hamilton stands alone as the most popular and impactful driver ever.
Villeneuve, who claimed his sole Drivers’ Championship title in 1997, has a reputation for his outspoken insights and attracted criticism last season after calling out a struggling Daniel Ricciardo during Sky Sports F1’s coverage of the Canadian Grand Prix.
The 53-year-old’s latest target was Verstappen. Speaking to Action Network about Hamilton’s upcoming move to Ferrari, Villeneuve said:
“Lewis Hamilton moving to Ferrari is the most high-profile F1 move since Michael Schumacher left Benetton for Ferrari.
“Independent of race results, Lewis Hamilton is the biggest driver of all time because of all the following he has. He’s very different. He’s unique.
He’s broken the mould. There’s a lot that hangs on him. He has the biggest image. His image goes beyond F1. And there’s not many drivers like that.
“Take Verstappen out of F1. Nobody cares. Take Hamilton out of F1, people care. So yes, it is the biggest signing.
And Ferrari is also one of the biggest brands in the world, if not the biggest. So put the two together, yeah, of course, it’s amazing.”
While Hamilton established himself as a global celebrity with A-lister friends and properties worldwide during his time as F1’s leading man, Verstappen has proven a more reserved character, choosing to spend his downtime away from the racetrack with his family or sim-racing online.
The Dutchman has also developed a reputation for being an outspoken figure.
He was punished for swearing during an FIA press conference in Singapore last year, and refused to apologise when pundits in the paddock called him out over his treatment of Red Bull strategists and race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase during the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Verstappen has no plans to change his approach either. "I am not going to change this because of other people,” he told RacingNews365.
"Of course, there are always nicer moments and some not-nice moments, but I'm outspoken, and that's how I am.
"When I feel like something is not right, and I have to say something about it, I will, and if not everyone agrees with it, that is fine.
I mean, it is their opinion. I don't mind, I will live my life how I want to live it, and if not many people agree with that, it is fine.
I don't live your life, I don't tell you how to live your life, but that is why we're on this planet.
"We all live our lives in a different way, everyone has different professions, and of course, some people are very opinionated about others. I am probably not like that in terms of criticising others, but I live my life, and I am not going to change this because of other people."
