On 12 May 2025, former Formula 1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve expressed sharp criticism of the FIA, the international motorsport federation, because of what he sees as unequal treatment of Max Verstappen compared to his title rivals. The 54-year-old Canadian, who won the world title in 1997, stated in an interview with Canadacasino that Verstappen is punished faster and heavier than other drivers, in particular McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who is a formidable competitor this season in the battle for the championship. These statements come at a time when the Formula 1 world is still struggling with controversies about the consistency of the FIA ​​in the application of penalties, which further increases the tension in the 2025 season.

Villeneuve’s criticism focuses specifically on the way the FIA ​​deals with incidents on the circuit. According to him, Verstappen gets a punishment faster than Piastri, which he describes as an “ideal son -in -law” that is less likely to be tapped. “If something happens, Piastri will not get punishments as quickly as Max Verstappen,” said Villeneuve. He pointed to races such as the Grands Prix of Saudi Arabia and Miami, where Piaastri came out of the bus in fighting with Verstappen, partly because Verstappen received a five-second time penalty in Jeddah after an incident in the opening round. Villeneuve states that this inequality has a major impact on the title fight, in which Verstappen is currently third with 12 points behind leader Piastri.

Villeneuve’s statements are not new. Already in 2021 he expressed similar concerns about the FIA, when Verstappen received a grid penalty of three places after a collision with Lewis Hamilton in Monza. At the time, Villeneuve called the punishment “unfair” and emphasized that both drivers were to blame for the incident. He criticized the FIA ​​at the time because, according to him, they ruled on the basis of the consequences of a crash, instead of the intention of the drivers. “They say they don’t judge based on the outcome of a crash, but that’s exactly what they did,” he told Corriere della Sera. This sentiment now seems to be rising again, four years later, but this time with a focus on the alleged preference of the FIA ​​for McLaren drivers.

The 2025 season is a challenging year for Verstappen and Red Bull Racing. McLaren dominates with five victories in the first six races, while Red Bull is struggling with the balance of the RB21 car. Verstappen has not yet received any penalty points this season, but he is already at eight penalty points due to earlier incidents in 2024, such as in Austria and Mexico, where he pushed Lando Norris off the track. At twelve penalty points within a year, he risks a suspension for a race, a threat that lingers above his head until his first points on June 30 expire. Villeneuve warns that the FIA’s stricter approach Verstappen brings in a adverse position, especially since his rivals seem to be less heavily tackled for similar violations.

The FIA ​​itself is also not free from internal problems. At the beginning of this year, on January 24, BBC Sport reported that within the Federation there was resistance to the stricter penalties for misconduct of drivers, a policy that FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem would have been pushed through despite opposition. An anonymous source called Ben Sulayem’s approach “dictatorial,” which underlines the unrest within the organization. This internal conflict, combined with Villeneuve’s criticism, feeds the discussion about the credibility of the FIA ​​in maintaining fair rules.

Fans have responded to the statements of Villeneuve. Some support his call for more consistency, while others think that Verstappen’s aggressive driving style justifies the penalties. On social media, messages in which fans state that the FIA ​​does indeed make inconsistent decisions, which only increases the tension in the title fight. Verstappen itself remains sober under the situation. After his recent race in Miami, where he finished third, he said: “I focus on my own achievements. What the FIA ​​does, I have no control over that.”

With a few more races to go in the 2025 season, the battle for the world title remains exciting. Villeneuve’s criticism of the FIA ​​emphasizes the need for more transparency and consistency in the regulations. Whether the FIA ​​will respond to this call remains unclear, but it is clear to Verstappen and his fans that every decision of the race management can have a big impact on his chances of winning a fifth world title. Formula 1 remains a sport in which not only speed, but also strategy and politics play a crucial role.