DANIEL RICCIARDO has given an X-rated response to heavy criticism from Jacques Villeneuve.
The RB driver was blasted by Villeneuve this week after a turbulent start to the Formula One season.
Ricciardo has failed to outperform team-mate Yuki Tsunoda in all but one of the eight races this year, prompting former world champion Villeneuve to slam his career as a whole.
The 1997 champ, 53, questioned why Ricciardo was even racing in F1 anymore, claiming that the Aussie “can’t cut it” anymore.
He also suggested that the 34-year-old is “finding excuses” while slamming his career as a whole by adding: “I think his image has kept him in F1 more than his results.”
But Ricciardo has hit back at the scathing review of this racing career after finishing fifth in qualifying ahead of this afternoon’s Canadian Grand Prix.
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Speaking to Sky Sports F1, he said: “I’ve just been told [about the criticism] I don’t listen or read [it].
“But there’s definitely some people out there who, yeah whatever, I won’t give him the time of day.
“Top five, I’ve been quick all weekend.
“Less than two tenths from pole so… eat s***!”
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Daniel Ricciardo’s career in F1
Hispania Racing
Ricciardo made his F1 debut at Silverstone in 2011 for Hispania Racing, finishing 19th, before he went on to race 10 more times that season.
Toro Rosso
He began his first full season in F1 with Toro Rosso in 2012, securing six top 10 finishes including in the opening race of the season in Australia.
Ricciardo finished the year six points behind team-mate Jean-Eric Vergne in the drivers’ standings.
He then secured seven more top 10s in the 2013 season, beating Vergne by seven points.
Red Bull
Ricciardo joined Red Bull for the 2014 season where he would race for five years, winning seven races.
He finished the 2014 and 2016 seasons in third place in the drivers’ standings behind only the Mercedes pair of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.
Ricciardo also finished ahead of four-time world champion team-mate Sebastian Vettel in two of their three seasons together.
Renault
Ricciardo signed for Renault in 2019 and finished his two seasons with the team in ninth and fifth.
He beat team-mates Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Ocon, before he was snapped up by McLaren.
McLaren
Ricciardo’s eighth and most recent Grand Prix victory came at Monza in his first season with McLaren.
Yet despite that victory, he finished his two seasons with the team well adrift of fellow McLaren man Lando Norris and was released at the end of the 2022 campaign.
Red Bull reserve and AlphaTauri
Without a seat for the 2023 season, Ricciardo became Red Bull’s reserve driver behind Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
When Nyck de Vries was then released by AlphaTauri in July, Ricciardo raced eight races for the team with a best-place finish of eighth.
RB
AlphaTauri became RB in 2024 but Ricciardo has struggled so far this season, finishing no higher than 12th in the opening eight races.
He sits on five points while team-mate Yuki Tsunoda is flying on 19, four places above him in the drivers’ standings.
Ricciardo gave a cheeky smile as he signed off from the interview with the X-rated ending and walked away from the microphone.
The reporter was left speechless at the unbelievable moment.
Ricciardo will feature in his 250th Grand Prix when the lights go out in Montreal this weekend.
His career has seen him rack up eight wins and 32 podium finishes across more than five teams spanning over 12 years.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
