Daniel Ricciardo reaffirms he would never ‘talk s***’ about someone over war of words with Jacques Villeneuve

Former F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve criticized Daniel Ricciardo during the Canadian GP, questioning why he is still in F1 due to his poor performances in 2024. However, the Australian managed a brilliant fifth-place result in Q3 which was his best qualifying of the season. The 35-year-old bluntly responded to this criticism and recently expressed disappointment, highlighting the difficulty of a driver’s job.

Daniel Ricciardo expressed his disappointment for the criticism received by Jacques Villeneuve. He stated that they must understand the driver’s struggles and what they go through before commenting anything on the situation. While he could have pointed out when other drivers were having a tough time, he would never badmouth them. The Australian understood their struggles because he had faced similar challenges himself. Ricciardo believed in supporting fellow drivers rather than tearing them down. This emphasized that his experience in the sport gave him empathy for others going through difficult periods.

I could comment on other drivers and be like, 'Yeah, he's gone through a rough patch', but I would never talk s**t about someone because I can relate and I know what they've gone through.

Daniel Ricciardo told The Mirror

Daniel Ricciardo felt disappointed when he heard the criticism from Villeneuve, but he decided to use it as motivation. Ricciardo thought that if some people believed he wasn’t performing well, it was a chance for him to remind them that he is still a strong competitor. Instead of letting the negative comments get him down, he saw them as a challenge to prove himself.

I was more disappointed, but I thought, 'If some people think that way, time for me to remind them that I'm still here

Daniel Ricciardo added.

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Daniel Ricciardo not getting ‘agitated’ over negative comments

Daniel Ricciardo said he turned the criticism to his advantage and didn’t let it bother him too much. He understood that everyone has their own opinions, but he chose to use the negativity as a source of motivation. His mindset was to stay focused and driven rather than getting upset. The Aussie noted that the race in Canada was a significant moment for him, marking a turning point in his season where he felt he made important progress. Therefore, the 35-year-old used the criticism as a fuel to improve and not get agitated by that. As a result his performance in Canada boosted and gave him significant confidence for future races.

I used it to my advantage, but it's fine. I know people have opinions. I just thought, 'Don't get agitated, get motivated '. Canada was definitely a bigger turning point.

Daniel Ricciardo stated.

Certainly, Daniel Ricciardo did not let the criticism affect him and maintained his focus on the race. As a result, he finished eighth despite the difficulties. However, he acknowledged that there was still room for improvement for the remaining ten races of the 2024 season.

In case you missed it:

• Guenther Steiner insists Red Bull needs to ‘calm’ Max Verstappen as the Dutchman is ‘under pressure’ in title fight
• “It’s not good,” Nico Rosberg voices concern over Ferrari’s progress after falling behind McLaren and Mercedes

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