Villeneuve: Verstappen getting "protection" from FIA

Villeneuve: Verstappen getting "protection" from FIA

By: Jonathan Noble, Formula 1 Editor 

Former world champion Jacques Villeneuve claims the lack of action over Max Verstappen's aggressive driving suggests the Dutchman is getting "protection" from the FIA. 

Verstappen has found himself in the firing line for his latest defensive moves at the Belgian Grand Prix, with several rivals claiming that if he does not calm down then he will cause a big accident. 

But Villeneuve believes that motor racing's governing body are the key players in the situation – as he suspects they are reluctant to punish him, because they do not want to take away his box office attraction. 

“The issue is the FIA, because it looks like he's got protection,” Villeneuve told Motorsport.com. “They want him to be a star. 

"Look in Germany. He weaved on the straight, so Nico [Rosberg] missed his braking [point]. They go a bit wide – Nico gets a penalty. For something even less than… and it wasn't even his fault. 

“So there is something that is wrong. I don't know. It's something that makes me angry, but that's just the way it is. Twenty years ago someone would have put him in a tree.” 

Unacceptable driving 

Villeneuve has not been won over by Verstappen's rapid rise up the ranks in F1 – and claimed that what he did in Belgium was simply 'unacceptable'. 

“It's way too much," he added. "The start is racing. It's too much, but it's racing. Because every expert driver, that's like GP2, you know that if you go to inside there will be an incident, because there is not enough room. You know it. 

“Mostly if you had a bad start, just accept it. But that is not what's bad. It's after that, he complains about other drivers: 'They destroyed my race'. 

"Relax, relax. You know you took a big risk and it did not pay off. You destroyed their race and you destroyed your own race. That's fine. That's life. 

“But what he did afterwards that's not acceptable. What he did to Kimi twice on the straight, and to Vettel as well. Just calm down. You're going to kill someone.” 

Calm down 

Villeneuve added that there was nothing wrong in F1 with hard racing, but there was a point where things get dangerous. 

When pointed out to Villeneuve that Verstappen doesn't care about making friends in F1, Villeneuve said: “No, and he doesn't care. Which is fine. That's right. 

“But you need to have just a little bit of respect. Because you all live in this little thing together. 

“Drivers should have respect among each other. Good, hard, fair racing, like Kimi said. You know, racing hard is great. But have some respect. 

"You can't just push people off. Or make them have to brake on the straight. That's super, super, super dangerous. Twenty years ago drivers fixed it among themselves.” 

When asked if he believed Verstappen would calm down, he said: “Of course not. Why? Every race he is worse.” 

Villeneuve has said that he does not expect other drivers to take matters in their own hands on track – as he insists the ball is in the FIA court. When asked if his rivals may choose to teach Verstappen a lesson, Villeneuve said: “No. Because now you lose your license. Not now. In this political atmosphere. It won't happen. 

“But look at the Olympics, some judge lost their licenses to be judges. Something like that should happen here as well, because obviously [Spa] was beyond acceptable.” 

Interview by Oleg Karpov

Fonte: www.motorsport.com

Mais uma vez concordo com tudo que Jacques falou, e acrescento, as pessoas em sua maioria estão achando lindo e batendo palmas para o comportamento de Max dentro e fora das pistas. 

Daí FIA lava as mãos (porque o que importa é o dinheiro) e a maioria fica: "Novo Senna, Novo Schumacher, que maravilha, arrojo, piloto sem mi-mi-mi..."... Depois não digam que eu não avisei quando as coisas saírem do controle.

E para deixar claro, não estou pedindo para ele facilitar passagem de ninguém, apenas que fosse respeitoso e não vingativo como um menino mimado. Foi o que Jacques disse, teve a corrida estragada (e eu acrescento, na verdade, ele estragou a de Kimi e não o contrário), engula o choro e recomece. Foi ruim sim o que aconteceu na largada, mas assim são corridas. Ele que é tão fodástico assim deveria saber disto. Mas o que ele fez? Resolveu devolver porque estava bravinho.

Eu não acho certo, não acho aceitável e não adianta me dizerem que ele é novo, pobrezinho, sem experiência. Ele é piloto de corridas, deveria muito bem saber o que está em risco.

Outra coisa,  destaco a parte sobre Verstappen não se importar em fazer amigos na F1 e que Villeneuve comentou da seguinte maneira: "Ele não se importa. E está tudo bem. Está certo. Mas você precisa ter um pouquinho de respeito. Porque todos vivem nisto juntos. Pilotos devem ter respeito entre si. Uma disputa boa, dura e justa, como Kimi disse. A gente sabe, uma corrida dura é bom. Mas tem que haver respeito. Você não pode simplesmente jogar as pessoas para fora. Ou fazê-las frear em uma reta. Isto é super, super, super perigoso. Há vinte anos os pilotos teriam resolvido isto por conta própria"

Pois é... RESPEITO. Ele não tem e continuará não tendo. 

Para encerrar, o briefing de pilotos na Itália será algo. #tenso E acho bom ele se preparar para a ira dos tifosi também. Embora ele seja todo trabalhado na arrogância e superioridade, já que é o novo Senna e o novo Schumacher juntos, ele vai sim ser muito "bem recebido" pelos torcedores italianos.

Beijinhos, Ludy