The Formula 1 world has once again been discredited by controversial statements made by former world champion Jacques Villeneuve. The Canadian, who won the world title in 1997, accused the FIA, the International Motorsport Federation, of manipulating championship results in the 2025 season by Max Verstappen more strictly than his competitors, particularly McLaren driver Oscar Piastri. Villeneuve’s comments, expressed during an interview with Vision4Sport on May 13, 2025, have sparked a wave of discussion in the paddock and among fans, especially as Verstappen struggles to retain his dominance in a more competitive field this year.

Villeneuve’s accusations center on what he sees as unequal treatment of drivers by the FIA. According to the former driver, Piastri, who has won four victories this season in the first six races and holds the championship lead, is punished less quickly than Verstappen. “If something happens, Piastri doesn’t get punished as quickly as Max Verstappen, for example. That also helps enormously in the championship battle,” Villeneuve said. He pointed to incidents in Saudi Arabia and Miami, where Piastri began fighting with Verstappen and emerged as the winner, in part due to a time penalty for the Dutchman in Jeddah. This inequality in punishments, Villeneuve says, gives Piastri an unfair advantage in the title race.

Villeneuve’s criticism comes at a time when Verstappen, who has won four world titles in a row, is having a challenging season. McLaren has a strong car this year, and Piaastri leads the championship by 32 points ahead of Verstappen, who is in third place. This season, Verstappen has had to deal with several penalties, including a surprising collision with George Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix on June 1, 2025, for which he received 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 pressure on his title chances. Villeneuve suggests that the FIA’s stricter approach to Verstappen is part of a wider agenda to make the competition more exciting by disadvantaging the Dutchman.

Villeneuve’s statements are not without precedent. Earlier this season, Jos Verstappen, Max’s father, also criticized the FIA ​​after Max received two ten-second time penalties during the 2024 Mexican Grand Prix. Jos called the stewards’ decisions “beating” and suggested there was some scrutiny. 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 reduce tensions. These incidents have further fueled discussion about the consistency of FIA management decisions.

The FIA ​​itself responded to mounting criticism by adjusting the rules on foul language and misconduct in May 2025. The maximum fines for such violations were halved, and stewards can now impose conditional punishments for a first violation. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem emphasized that these changes are intended to better manage emotions during races, but critics, including Villeneuve, see this as an attempt to appease public perception without addressing the core of the problem. Verstappen has indicated that he is more cautious in his statements, especially following the introduction of stricter rules against Schelden, which in 2025 can result in fines of up to €240,000 and even suspensions.

The controversy surrounding the FIS also has broader implications for the sport. Villeneuve’s comments fuel speculation about the future of Verstappen, who is rumored to be leaving Red Bull in 2026 due to new engine regulations and the strong performance of competitors like Mercedes. Despite his contract running until 2028, a clause could allow him to leave if Red Bull fails to remain competitive. For the time being, Verstappen remains focused, 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 continues, the question remains whether the FIA’s decisions will actually influence the championship’s results. Villeneuve’s accusations have turned the spotlight on the sport’s integrity, and fans are anxiously awaiting the upcoming races to see if Verstappen can make up for his backlog or if Piastri’s alleged preferred treatment will give him the title.