“He’s hit his head too many times”: Daniel Ricciardo tells Jacques Villeneuve to ‘suck it’ after recent slander from the former F1 champion

Daniel Ricciardo dismissed criticism by Jacques Villeneuve with a fifth-place qualifying result for the 2024 Canadian GP. Speaking to onsite media, the RB driver felt the 1997 world champion had a habit of spewing the wrong words occasionally.

Villeneuve has had scathing opinions in the past about Daniel Ricciardo even in his McLaren days. But in Canada, the former F1 champion went as far as to question his presence on the grid. In response, the 34-year-old driver pointed at his results all weekend where he was the quickest driver from the Faenza squad in every session.

Using a colorful flair of words, Daniel Ricciardo silenced the Canadian criticism that questioned his ability to perform. Despite the qualifying result, the 53-year-old stuck to his criticism that the former Red Bull Racing driver needed to perform better and not on days when the car suited him.

Asked if Villeneuve’s critique was motivating to perform in qualifying, Daniel Ricciardo said:

“I still don't know what he said, but I heard he's been talking s#@t, but he always does. I think he's hit his head a few too many times. So I don't know if he plays ice hockey or something. Anyway won’t give him the time of day but all those people can suck it. I want to say more but we’ll leave them behind.”

Answering Rachel Brooks on Sky about the Canadian champion’s criticism, he replied:

“I’ve just been told. I don’t listen or read but yeah there’s definitely some people out there who. yeah or whatever. I won’t give him the time of day. But yeah, top 5, I’ve been quick all weekend, well less than two tenths from pole so - eat s#@t.”

Debriefing the Australian’s performance in Canada, Villeneuve said:

“When you have a car that suits you, you can deliver performances like this. Today, was a good qualifying, but he needs to carry on.”

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Daniel Ricciardo reckons past success in Canada motivated him to perform better

Daniel Ricciardo claims that he had a better feeling with the car going into the Canadian GP weekend. Fastest in all three sessions, the Aussie reckons his first victory at the Montreal circuit ten years ago motivated him to do better. In FP1 and FP2 he outpaced Yuki Tsunoda by roughly two-tenths of a second. In FP3, the gap was up to half a second and three-tenths of a second in qualifying. However, the Honey Badger’s best lap in qualifying was less than two-tenths of a second away from clinching pole position.

Asked about his motivation going into the weekend, Daniel Ricciardo said;

“I’ve obviously been highly motivated to do more than I had been this year. You know obviously Miami was a bit off a one off and I know how good those results feel. Thats why I do it to feel those highs.

He further added:

So I think just coming into the week there was, I don’t know everything felt right. I just felt happy coming back to this circuit and I love to drive here. Yeah today’s ten years to the day to my first win and that day just changed my life so thats just lot of nice emotions coming into it. I just felt like I was ready to do some good s#@t.”

Asked if there were any changes made to his car going into qualifying, Daniel Ricciardo explained:

“So there’s two parts- Firstly the car from when we put it down yesterday on track. FP1 not so much FP2 more laps got done. I just had confidence in it. The car felt good and I was able to slide it and drive it a bit more aggressively. Just felt like I was getting on top of it. I felt the car was good. Part 2 is we are always going to be trying to perfect the car and I have to look at myself and make sure that I am in a good place with results like this.”

The fifth-place qualifying position is Daniel Ricciardo's best position in 2024, after the Chinese GP qualifying position and the fourth place in sprint qualifying in Miami. So far he has managed to score only five points for the team after a slow start to the season. Retaining fifth place could quantify 10 points and a place above would add more. Yet to be resigned for the 2025 season, the eight-time grand prix winner is yearning for a result to justify his place on the grid. At a circuit that favors late braking, the former Canadian GP winner could be one of the few drivers to liven up the race.