The 2025 Formula 1 season has been a whirlwind of drama, and former world champion Jacques Villeneuve has not been shy about stirring the pot with his candid commentary. Recently, Villeneuve has been vocal about what he sees as an unfair disadvantage faced by Max Verstappen, particularly in the aftermath of a dramatic front-line collision with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli at the Austrian Grand Prix. The incident, which saw both drivers retire from the race, has sparked debate over the FIA’s stewarding decisions, with Villeneuve claiming Verstappen would have faced a harsher penalty if he had been the only one at fault. The claim adds fuel to the ongoing debate over consistency in F1’s stewarding staff and the challenges Verstappen faces in a fiercely competitive season.

The Austrian Grand Prix, held at the Red Bull Ring, ended in disaster for Verstappen, who suffered his first DNF of 2025 after Antonelli locked his rear tyres at Turn 3 and collided with the Red Bull driver’s car. The impact forced both drivers out of the race, a significant blow to Verstappen’s championship as he now trails McLaren’s Oscar Piastri on 61 points. Antonelli, an 18-year-old Italian rookie, was deemed entirely at fault by the FIA ​​Stewards, who imposed a three-place grid penalty for the British Grand Prix and two penalty points on his super permit. While Antonelli was quick to apologise, Villeneuve argues the punishment was lenient, suggesting the FIA ​​would have come down harder on Verstappen for a similar incident. He points to Verstappen’s history of penalties, including a 10-second time penalty and three penalty points for a collision with George Russell in Spain, as evidence of stricter scrutiny of the Dutch driver.

Villeneuve’s argument hinges on the perception that Verstappen, a four-time world champion known for his aggressive driving style, is held to a different standard. He notes that Verstappen’s 11 penalty points over a 12-month period brought him to the brink of a one-race ban, a situation exacerbated by incidents such as the Spanish Grand Prix, where he was penalized for a collision with Russell despite Red Bull’s instruction to concede the position. Villeneuve argues that Antonelli’s error, while acknowledged as unintentional, significantly disrupted Verstappen’s race and championship campaign, but the penalty was relatively light. He suggests that the FIA’s reluctance to impose harsher sanctions on the young Mercedes driver may reflect a preference for protecting emerging talent or a reluctance to disrupt the narrative of a competitive season.

The context of the Austrian GP incident adds weight to Villeneuve’s criticism. Verstappen, starting from P7 after a disrupted qualifying, was already in a precarious position, battling a Red Bull car that has struggled to match McLaren’s pace. Antonelli’s mistake, caused by locking his rear tyres while avoiding Liam Lawson, was deemed a rookie error, but one with significant consequences. The stewards noted that no other cars directly affected the collision, rejecting the typical leniency applied to first-lap incidents. However, Villeneuve argues that the penalty – a grid drop and two penalty points – parks compared to what Verstappen would have faced, citing the Dutchman’s previous punishments for incidents including an unsafe pit-release in Miami and a collision with Lando Norris in Qatar.

This disparity in decision-making has wider implications for Verstappen’s 2025 campaign. With McLaren, led by Piastri and Norris, dominating, Verstappen’s hopes have faded, and incidents such as the Austrian GP crash only widen the gap. Villeneuve’s comments also highlight the pressure on Verstappen, who must navigate a tightrope of avoiding a race ban while competing against a field of aggressive young drivers. The rivalry with Mercedes, particularly with Russell and now Antonelli, adds a further layer of complexity, while tensions from previous clashes linger. Toto Wolff’s interest in signing Verstappen for 2026 further complicates the story, with Villeneuve drawing parallels with Lewis Hamilton’s bold move to Mercedes in 2013, suggesting Verstappen may need to consider a similar leap to secure his future.

Villeneuve’s outspoken defence of Verstappen underscores a wider problem in F1: the consistency of stewardship. While Antonelli’s penalty was not insignificant, the perception that Verstappen is facing more serious consequences for similar transgressions raises questions about fairness. As the season heads towards the British Grand Prix, where Antonelli will serve his grid penalty, Verstappen’s focus will be on clawing back claw points in a championship that is slipping away. For Villeneuve, the Austrian GP incident is a case study in the challenges Verstappen faces – not just on track, but in the FIA’s eyes. Whether this perceived disadvantage will force Verstappen to reconsider his future with Red Bull remains to be seen, but Villeneuve’s comments ensure that the debate will continue to simmer in the F1 paddock.