Formula 1: 'Eat s**t!' Daniel Ricciardo hits back at Jacques Villeneuve over criticism

Daniel Ricciardo has hit back at Jacques Villeneuve after the 1997 Formula 1 champion slammed the Australian for still having a spot on the grid. AfterRicciardo earned P5 in the Canadian Grand Prix qualifying session on Saturday (Jun 8), theVisa Cash App RB driver did not hold back and gave it fair and square toVilleneuve.

Ricciardo saidVilleneuve always talked a lot and that he 'won'tgive him the time of day', especially when he had locked a top grid position.

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"I still don't know what he said, but I heard he's been talking but he always does. I think he's hit his head a few too many times.I don't know if he plays ice hockey or something," Ricciardo told the media.

"I won't give him the time of day.Top five. I've been quick all weekend. Less than two-tenths from pole. So, eat sh*t," he added.

Villeneuv's rant

Prior to the qualifying session, Villeneuve had went all out against Ricciardo in an amusing rant that went viral on social media.

Villeneuve saidRicciardo had not achieved anything substantial in the sport and that his best seasons came against a past-prime Sebastian Vettel and a young MaxVerstappen still finding his footing in the sport.

"Why's he still in F1? Why?We are hearing the same thing now for the last four or five years,"Villeneuve, 53, toldSkySports.

"'We have to make the car better for him'. Sorry, it's been five years of that. No, you are in F1. Maybe you make that effort for Lewis Hamilton who has won multiple championships. You don't make that effort for a driver that can't cut it," he added.

Villeneuve signed off sayingRicciardo's PR value had still kept him in the sport.

"You talk about those first two seasons, he was beating a (Sebastian) Vettel that was burnt out and trying to invent things. Then he was beating for half a season an 18-year-old (Max) Verstappen. He stopped beating anyone after that. I think his image has kept him in F1 more than his actual results."

Ricciardo, 34, made his debut in F1 in 2011 andimmediately impressed with his clever handling of the car. He won his first race in Canada in the 2014 season and finished third in the overall standings at the end of the campaign.

However, the 'Honey Badger' as he is nicknamed, is currently struggling and fighting for his career in the sport. Despite having an impressive 32 race podiums on his resume, Ricciardo has underperformed this season, with teammate Yuki Tsunoda finishing ahead of him in all but one race. Ricciardo's last race win came at Monza when he was still with McLaren in 2021.

(With inputs from agencies)