Formula 1 commentator and reporter Natalie Pinkham thinks Jacques Villeneuve provided an “over-simplistic summary” in his harsh critique of Daniel Ricciardo.
1997 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve did not hold back in his criticism of Daniel Ricciardo at the Canadian Grand Prix. Villeneuve questioned why Ricciardo is still in Formula 1, suggesting the same excuse of needing a better car has been used for years and bluntly told him to “go home.” This sparked a spat, with Ricciardo responding and Villeneuve claiming the eight-time race winner made it “personal.”
Ricciardo’s performance in Canada, where he qualified P5 and finished P8, his best result of the season, prompted a discussion on the F1 Nation podcast. Host Tom Clarkson noted Ricciardo’s performance resembled his former self. Commentator Natalie Pinkham responded, acknowledging that while Villeneuve is entitled to his opinion, his summary of Ricciardo’s career was overly simplistic.
Pinkham explained that Ricciardo’s career narrative is more complex, pointing out that he lost his seat at McLaren due to poor performance but earned it back through AlphaTauri, only to break his hand and have to fight his way back again. She praised Ricciardo’s ability to quiet his critics on the track and expressed disappointment over him and Yuki Tsunoda losing positions at the start.
Ricciardo’s P8 finish in Canada, a track where he claimed his first F1 victory in 2014, was his first top-10 result of the season. Pinkham highlighted the psychological boost drivers get from performing well at tracks with positive memories and noted that Canada suits Ricciardo well.
Despite the challenges, Pinkham was pleased to see Ricciardo’s strong qualifying and driving, and she hoped his success would continue. She speculated on his motivations for staying in F1, suggesting a love for the sport and the pinnacle of competition as likely reasons.
Regarding Ricciardo’s goal to return to the main Red Bull team, Pinkham noted the unexpected timing of Sergio Perez’s new two-year deal. However, she hinted that Ricciardo’s strong performances could keep the door open for future opportunities, emphasizing that contracts in F1 are often flexible based on performance.
In the Drivers’ Championship standings, Ricciardo sits P12 with nine points after the Canadian GP, while his teammate Tsunoda, confirmed at RB for 2025 during the race weekend, has 19 points.
