1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has taken offence to a comparison made by Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda between Max Verstappen and his father Gilles Villeneuve.
At the Canadian Grand Prix this past weekend, the former Williams driver would commemorate 40 years since Gilles won his home race at the circuit that now bears his name by driving the 1978 Ferrari before the start.
Lauda would then add his opinion by claiming similarities between the Dutchman, who Villeneuve has previously called “overrated” and a “child”, to Jacques’ father.
“I admit I was shocked to be told that Niki Lauda had dared to compare Gilles to Max Verstappen,” he told Le Journal de Montreal. “It is shameful.
“Maybe Lauda still has a problem with Ferrari’s decision to replace him with my father.”
Explaining why he was so angered by the Austrian’s clam, he added: “I agree that the Red Bull driver takes risks like my father did, but there is a big difference – my father had respect for his opponents and learned from his mistakes.
“His education was completely different. Unlike Verstappen, Gilles would not block or change course direction on the track.
“Quite frankly I don’t understand the comparison at all.”
His comments come after Max enjoyed his first incident-free weekend of the season in Canada, showing his best form with an excellent third place finish.
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Though he has insisted nothing changed in his approach to the race, Red Bull boss Christian Horner did reveal one alteration behind the scenes.
“He’s just been here on his own,” he said, with father Jos and his entourage staying in Europe. “It’s just something different. Whether it contributed is impossible to say.
“He has been very immersed in everything the team’s been doing this weekend. And he has done a super job, so all credit to him for putting together a very strong weekend.”