F1 Champion Villeneuve Refuses to Criticize Ferrari, Citing 'Hate Mail' Fears

Former F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve is deliberately avoiding any public judgment on Ferrari's 2025 performance, citing fears of receiving a fresh wave of "hate mail" from the team's notoriously passionate fanbase. The Canadian, who has been critical of the Maranello outfit in the past, has chosen to remain silent this time, acknowledging the intense scrutiny Ferrari faces compared to other teams on the grid.

Why it matters:

Villeneuve's reluctance highlights the unique and often toxic pressure that comes with critiquing Ferrari, a team with one of the most passionate and protective fanbases in global sports. His decision to self-censor underscores how the Tifosi's fervor can create a chilling effect on public discourse, even for respected figures within the sport, and reflects the intense scrutiny the team operates under.

The details:

• Villeneuve explicitly stated, "I don't want to comment on Ferrari really. I'll just get hate mail again," when asked for his thoughts on the team's season.
• His previous critiques came after a deeply disappointing 2025 campaign for Ferrari, which saw them finish a distant fourth in the Constructors' Championship without a single race victory.
• He noted that Ferrari's global prominence makes them an easy target, adding, "It’s easy to criticise Ferrari because they're in the limelight. So, you always see everything they do or don't do. That's not the case with other teams."

Between the lines:

Villeneuve's comments are less about Ferrari's on-track performance and more a commentary on the team's off-track ecosystem. It reveals a reality where even seasoned champions must weigh their words carefully when discussing the Scuderia, for fear of a vocal online backlash. This self-imposed silence speaks volumes about the unique cultural phenomenon surrounding Ferrari and its powerful, sometimes overbearing, influence on the narrative within Formula 1.