Jacques Villeneuve doubles down on Kimi Antonelli F1 criticism: “A very amateur move”

1997 F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve hasn’t backed down on his criticism in direction of Kimi Antonelli following the Dutch Grand Prix.

Antonelli had a combined race at Zandvoort on Sunday.

The Italian initially recovered from a disappointing qualifying efficiency, failing to make it into Q3, to run inside the highest six forward of teammate George Russell.

A second pit cease onto the softs triggered Ferrari to reply with Charles Leclerc.

With Leclerc on chilly tyres, Antonelli noticed a chance to overhaul, however misjudged it, taking the Ferrari driver out of the race.

Antonelli was handed a 10-second time penalty for the incident, and later acquired a five-second penalty for dashing, dropping him out of the highest 10.

After the race, Villeneuve, who was on responsibility as a pundit for Sky Sports activities, hit out at Antonelli.

Villeneuve slammed Antonelli for his transfer, questioning whether or not being in F1 was “an excessive amount of for him”.

In a separate interview with Comeon, Villeneuve stood by his preliminary feedback.

“Do I stand by what I stated about Antonelli? Completely. On what planet did he assume he was going to make the nook and never run into Leclerc? It’s paying homage to Austria,” Villeneuve stated.

“Evidently there is no such thing as a idea or calculation of what’s occurring forward from him. It’s actually, actually odd.I imply there’s strikes like Leclerc towards Russell. It was aggressive nevertheless it might have labored. There was the potential there.

“For Antonelli, even from getting into the nook, the nook earlier than that it was apparent that it wasn’t going to work, and after I noticed him dive to the within, I used to be considering, the place does he assume he’ll find yourself?

“Even in his personal feedback, he stated he was shocked that Leclerc turned in entrance of him. Properly, no. He was on the road. That’s the place he was. What did he assume he was doing?

“That’s why I stated that’s not a Method One transfer. That’s not a racing driver transfer. That’s a really novice transfer, mainly, and also you’re in Method One.”

Antonelli ‘can’t be judged otherwise’

Villeneuve reiterated his view that Kimi Antonelli’s age can’t be an element.

Villeneuve cited Ollie Bearman and Gabriel Bortoleto’s progress at their respective groups.

Though, on steadiness, the stress of racing for a midfield crew, towards a teammate who’s not at Russell’s stage, is totally totally different.

“Possibly if this was the primary race of the season you’d assume okay, no matter, however sizzling midway by way of the season,” Villeneuve added.

“It’s like this in each sport. He’s accomplished a variety of races now. He’s accomplished mile and miles in no matter they’re allowed to make use of in an older, two-year-old automotive, so he was prepped for this, and for the reason that begin of the season he hasn’t progressed within the job.

“Take a look at Bortoleto. He’s making steps ahead. Bearman, he’s all the time been there. There isn’t any excuse for Antonelli. He’sin the Mercedes. There’s a giant crew round it. A giant cocoon.

“Verstappen arrived in F1 on the similar age. Lewis was not a lot older was he? And he fought Alonso. That’s what you need to take as a comparability. That is Method One and in case you’re too younger for it then don’t be in F1. It’s that straightforward.

“If you happen to’re prepared to make the soar and settle for the job, and a crew put you in there, you can’t be judged otherwise for being younger.”