The Formula 1 world has once again been thrown into disrepute by controversial comments from former world champion Jacques Villeneuve. The Canadian, who won the world title in 1997, accused the FIA, the International Federation of Motorsport, of manipulating Max Verstappen’s championship results for the 2025 season more rigorously than his rivals, most notably McLaren driver Oscar Piastri. Villeneuve’s comments, made during an interview with Vision4Sport on May 13, 2025, have sparked a wave of debate in the paddock and among fans, especially as Verstappen struggles to maintain his dominance in a more competitive field this year.
Villeneuve’s accusations focus on what he sees as unequal treatment of drivers by the FIA. According to the former driver, Piastri, who has won four of the first six races this season and leads the championship, is punished less quickly than Verstappen. “If something happens, Piastri is not punished as quickly as, for example, Max Verstappen. That also helps a lot in the battle for the championship,” Villeneuve said. He pointed to incidents in Saudi Arabia and Miami, where Piastri clashed with Verstappen and emerged victorious, thanks in part to a time penalty for the Dutchman in Jeddah. This disparity in penalties, Villeneuve says, gives Piastri an unfair advantage in the title race.
Villeneuve’s criticism comes at a time when Verstappen, who has won four straight world titles, is enduring a challenging season. McLaren have a strong car this year and Piaastri leads the championship by 32 points over Verstappen, who is third. Verstappen has picked up several penalties this season, including a surprise collision with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix on June 1, 2025, which earned him a time penalty and penalty points on his supercar license. With eight penalty points on his license, Verstappen is just one point away from a potential suspension, putting his title hopes under pressure. Villeneuve suggests that the FIA’s tougher approach to Verstappen is part of a wider agenda to spice up the competition by disadvantaging the Dutchman.
Villeneuve’s comments are not without precedent. Earlier this season, Max’s father Jos Verstappen also criticized the FIA after Max was given two 10-second time penalties during the 2024 Mexican Grand Prix. Jos called the stewards’ decisions “punishment” and suggested that there was some control. FIA steward Johnny Herbert, who was involved in those penalties, defended the decisions but also stated that he was a “big fan” of Verstappen, which did not ease the tensions. These incidents have further fueled the debate about the consistency of FIA management decisions.
The FIA itself responded to the growing criticism by changing its rules on foul language and misconduct in May 2025, halving the maximum fines for such offences and allowing stewards to impose suspended sentences for a first offence. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has stressed that the changes are intended to better manage emotions during races, but critics including Villeneuve see them as an attempt to appease public opinion without addressing the root cause of the problem. Verstappen has indicated that he will be more cautious in his statements, especially after the introduction of stricter rules against swearing, which could lead to fines of up to €240,000 and even suspensions in 2025.
The FIS controversy also has wider implications for the sport. Villeneuve’s comments have fueled speculation about the future of Verstappen, who is rumoured to be leaving Red Bull in 2026 due to new engine regulations and the strong performance of rivals such as Mercedes. Despite his contract running until 2028, a clause could allow him to leave if Red Bull fails to remain competitive. Verstappen remains focused for now, but his recent media silence, as reported by RacingNews365, suggests he is feeling the pressure from the FIA and the public.
As the 2025 season approaches, the question remains whether the FIA’s decisions will actually impact the championship results. Villeneuve’s allegations have put the integrity of the sport in the spotlight, with fans anxiously awaiting the coming races to see if Verstappen can catch up or if Piastri’s alleged preferential treatment will earn him the title.
