The Formula 1 world has once again been thrown into disarray by controversial comments from former world champion Jacques Villeneuve. The Canadian, who won the world title in 1997, has accused the FIA, the international governing body for motorsport, of manipulating the championship results in the 2025 season by punishing Max Verstappen more severely 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 does not get penalties as quickly as, for example, Max Verstappen. That also helps enormously in the battle for the championship,” Villeneuve said. He pointed to incidents in Saudi Arabia and Miami, where Piastri fought Verstappen and emerged victorious, partly due to a time penalty for the Dutchman in Jeddah. This disparity in penalties, Villeneuve argues, gives Piastri an unfair advantage in the title race.
Villeneuve’s criticism comes as Verstappen, who has won four straight world titles, is facing a challenging season. McLaren have a strong car this year, with Piastri leading the championship by 32 points over Verstappen, who is in third place. Verstappen has faced multiple penalties this season, including a high-profile collision with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix on June 1, 2025, which saw him handed a time penalty and penalty points on his superlicense. With eight penalty points on his license, Verstappen is now just one point away from a potential suspension, further undermining his title hopes. 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 statements are not without precedent. Earlier this season, Max’s father Jos Verstappen also criticized the FIA ​​after two 10-second time penalties Max received during the 2024 Mexican Grand Prix. Jos called the stewards’ decisions “striking” and suggested that there was bias. FIA steward Johnny Herbert, who was involved in those penalties, defended the decisions but also stated that he was a “huge fan” of Verstappen, which did not ease the tensions. These incidents have further fueled the debate about the consistency of the FIA’s steward decisions.
The FIA ​​itself has responded to the growing criticism by changing its rules on inappropriate language and misconduct in May 2025. The maximum fines for such offences have been halved, and stewards can now 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 soothe public perception without addressing the root cause of the problem. Verstappen himself has indicated that he will be more cautious in his statements, especially after the introduction of stricter rules against swearing, which could result in fines of up to €240,000 and even suspensions in 2025.
The controversy surrounding the FIA’s punishments 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 the 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 remains uncompetitive. For now, Verstappen remains focused, but his recent silence in the media, as reported by RacingNews365, suggests he is feeling the pressure from the FIA ​​and public opinion.
As the 2025 season rages on, questions remain as to whether the FIA’s decisions actually influence championship results. Villeneuve’s allegations have shone a spotlight on the integrity of the sport, with fans eagerly awaiting the coming races to see if Verstappen can make up the lost ground or if Piastri’s alleged preferential treatment will hand him the title.
