In the fast-paced world of Formula 1, where every corner holds potential drama and every penalty can jeopardize a championship, Jacques Villeneuve’s voice resonates louder than ever. The Canadian, himself world champion in 1997, has not held back in his recent criticism of the FIA, the sports governing body that hands out penalties as if it were an unfair game of cards. Villeneuve is targeting what he sees as a clear disadvantage for Max Verstappen, the three-time champion from the Netherlands who is fighting for every inch of track this season. “If Max makes the same mistake as others, he will receive a heavier penalty,” he said bluntly in an interview with RacingNews365. It’s a comment that resonates like a pit stop failure: harsh, unexpected, and with consequences.

Let’s rewind to the Spanish Grand Prix, a weekend that still resonates in the paddock. It was a race full of fireworks, with a late safety car that raised the tension to a fever pitch. George Russell, the Mercedes driver with a winner’s grin, forced Verstappen wide in Turn 1 after the restart. Red Bull pleaded on the radio: “Let him by, Max, or you risk a penalty.” But Verstappen, the fighter through and through, wouldn’t give in. They collided at Turn 5, a collision the FIA ​​stewards didn’t overlook. A ten-second penalty for Verstappen, plus three points on his superlicense – now he’s on eleven, just one point shy of a racing ban. Russell? He happily drove on without a scratch on his record. Villeneuve, never one to shy away from a strong opinion, called this a blatant error by the stewards. “Russell deserved a penalty for that move in Turn 1. He touched Max’s rear wheel and pushed him off the track. According to the rules, that’s forcing a collision. Why didn’t he get anything?” It’s a question that lingers, like exhaust fumes in the pit lane.

This Spanish blunder isn’t an isolated incident, Villeneuve emphasizes. Look at Miami, a few weeks earlier. In the sprint race, Verstappen crashed in the pits with Kimi Antonelli, earning him a sporting penalty and catapulting him to last place. No extra points again, but a blow to the points race. And then there’s the broader trend: Villeneuve compares it to the infamous rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg at Mercedes. “If Nico made the same move, he’d get a penalty. The next race, Lewis did the same, and nothing. There’s a slight imbalance, and that’s human. But Piastri is now on the right side of that balance.” Oscar Piastri, the Australian for McLaren, is, according to the Canadian, the stewards’ “golden child”—beloved, resilient, and with a mentor like Mark Webber to guide him through the storms. Piastri’s third consecutive victory in Miami didn’t come out of nowhere; it was a mix of talent and, according to Villeneuve, a touch of favor from above.

What does this mean for Verstappen? Simple: a disadvantage that bites. This 2025 season, the title race is a snake pit. McLaren dominates, with Piastri and Lando Norris taking turns, while Red Bull struggles with a car that is no longer top-tier. Verstappen, with 137 points after Spain, lost crucial seconds in Barcelona and finished tenth – a disaster for a driver who has to drive at the limit to compete. “He knows he doesn’t have the best car, so he has to be at the limit or over it. That leads to mistakes, and that makes his title fight much harder,” said Villeneuve. The Dutchman himself has already complained about the FIA’s inconsistency, and Villeneuve’s words fuel that fire. Social media is abuzz with discussion: Verstappen fans shout “bias!” while critics point to his aggressive style. But Villeneuve, with his own history of hard-fought racing on track, sees it as a pattern. Piastri isn’t punished as easily as Max. That’s a big advantage in the championship race.

More broadly, this touches on the core of Formula 1: is the sport fair, or a game of perception? The FIA ​​has tried to make penalties more consistent in recent years, with more points and time penalties, but Villeneuve’s accusation—backed by recent posts on platforms like Facebook where he accuses the federation of “manipulating” the championship by punishing Verstappen more severely—casts a shadow. Consider the Dutch GP in September, where Carlos Sainz received an “embarrassing” penalty for a minor touch, while others got away with it. Villeneuve called it a farce, and it fuels the theory that Verstappen, a four-time champion and a crowd favorite with an edge, is a target.

Yet there is hope for the Limburg native. With six races remaining, including the hectic triple header in Asia, Verstappen can bounce back. His drive in Singapore, where he took pole despite the chaos, demonstrates that fire. Villeneuve, who once called Verstappen “not even feisty” during a down moment, now sees a comeback. “Something has changed with Max, but he’s back.” The question is: will the FIA ​​admit it, or will the disadvantage continue to gnaw at him? In a sport where milliseconds make kings, an unfair balance can bring the whole palace down.

Villeneuve’s words are a wake-up call for the FIA. If the federation wants the sport to retain its credibility, it must listen. Because in the eyes of a champion like him, this is no small matter—it’s a rift in the very fabric of the premier class. Verstappen isn’t just fighting Piastri and Norris, but a system that, according to Villeneuve, has one hand tied behind his back. The fans are watching, the engines are roaring, and the penalties are coming. Who knows what the next corner will bring?