Jacques Villeneuve has be🧸en told that his criticism of Daniel Ricciardo was false and “simplistic🍎”.

Ex-F1 champion Villeneuve caused a stir at last w𒁃eekend’s Canadian Grand Prix with unexpectedly scathing words about Ricciardo.

Villeneuve questioned why Ricciardo was still an F1 driver, prompting a spicy re🔴sponse from t💛he popular Aussie.

F1 Nation podcast host Tom Clarkson said about Ricciardo: “He came ✨in for some criticism from former world champion Jacques Villeneuve.

“I don’t know whether ♏that was the source of motivation for Daniel but I’d say it was a really strong weekend for him.

“Certainly his stro💧ngest since he came back to F1 in the middle of last season.

“I’d say the Daniel of old…”

Natalie Pinkham had her say:ꦕ “Jacques is entitled to his opinion. I think it was a somewhat over simplistic view of Daniel’s career.

“To say he’s been five year☂s in the sport, and struggled throughout, isn’t true.

“He lost his seat at McLaren due to poor perform꧃ance then earned it back at AlphaTauri. Only to break his hand, and earn it back again.

“Jacques is entitled to his opinion but it was great to see Daniel𒁃 quieten his critics in the best possible way, on the track.

“That qualy was fantastic. It was d𝔍isappointing to see him and Yuki lose places at the start. There was a🌼n issue there.”

Clarkson said: “They lost places at the start in Imola too.༒”

Pinkham continued: “Ironic he would gain a penalty for jumping the start which still baffles him and pundits around the spor༺t.

“Did you see him move? Potentially the wh💙eel moved slightly b𒀰ut it didn’t come out of his box to gain an advantage.

“He served the penalty𓂃 and brought it home in P8, partly because he benefited from Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon coming together.

“On the whole, Canada is a track which suits him. He got his first grand p𝐆rix win there so it holds great memories for him.

“There isn’t a driver on the grid who doesn’t relish going b🍸ack to p﷽laces where they perform well.

“You get a psychological boost from that.

“Good to see Danieꦿl back hushing those critics, long may i🍬t continue.”

Ricciardo, whose faint hopes of landinꦬg the second Red Bull seat in 2025 ended with the renewal of Sergio Perez’s contract, delivered a reminder of his talents in Montreal.

The RB fin💎ished e🌄ighth, a productive result after a poor period which prompted Villeneuve’s criticism.