On May 12, 2025, former Formula 1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve sharply criticized the FIA, the international governing body for motorsport, for 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 being punished faster and more severely than other drivers, most notably McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who is a formidable rival in the championship fight this season. The comments come as the Formula 1 world continues to grapple with controversies over the FIA’s consistency in imposing penalties, further increasing the tension for the 2025 season.

Villeneuve’s criticism specifically focuses on the way the FIA ​​deals with incidents on track. He says Verstappen is more likely to be penalised than Piastri, who he describes as an “ideal son-in-law” who is less likely to be reprimanded. “If something happens, Piastri doesn’t get penalties as quickly as, for example, Max Verstappen,” Villeneuve said. He pointed to races such as the Saudi Arabian and Miami Grands Prix, where Piastri emerged victorious in battles with Verstappen, partly because Verstappen was given a five-second time penalty in Jeddah after an incident on the opening lap. Villeneuve says this disparity is having a major impact on the title race, where Verstappen is currently third, 12 points behind leader Piastri.

Villeneuve’s comments are not new. He already expressed similar concerns about the FIA ​​in 2021, when Verstappen was given a three-place grid penalty after a collision with Lewis Hamilton in Monza. At the time, Villeneuve called the penalty “unfair” and stressed that both drivers were at fault for the incident. He criticized the FIA ​​at the time for judging based on the consequences of a crash, rather than 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 at the time. That sentiment seems to be rearing its head again now, four years later, but this time with a focus on the FIA’s alleged preference for McLaren drivers.

The 2025 season is a challenging one for Verstappen and Red Bull Racing. McLaren dominates with five wins from the first six races, while Red Bull struggles with the balance of its RB21 car. Verstappen has not yet picked up any penalty points this season, but he already has eight points from previous incidents in 2024, including in Austria and Mexico, where he pushed Lando Norris off the track. If he racks up 12 penalty points within a year, he risks a one-race ban, a threat that will hang over his head until his first points expire on June 30. Villeneuve warns that the FIA’s tougher approach puts Verstappen at a disadvantage, especially as his rivals appear to be facing less severe penalties for similar infractions.

The FIA ​​itself is not without its internal problems. Earlier this year, on January 24, BBC Sport reported that there was resistance within the federation to tougher penalties for driver misconduct, a policy that FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem had reportedly pushed through despite opposition. An anonymous source called Ben Sulayem’s approach “dictatorial,” underscoring the turmoil within the organization. This internal conflict, combined with Villeneuve’s criticism, is fueling debate about the FIA’s credibility in enforcing fair rules.

Fans have reacted mixed to Villeneuve’s comments. Some support his call for more consistency, while others believe Verstappen’s aggressive driving style justifies the penalties. Messages on social media have been circulating in which fans claim that the FIA ​​is indeed making inconsistent decisions, which only increases the tension in the title fight. Verstappen himself remains calm about the situation. After his recent race in Miami, where he finished third, he said: “I focus on my own performance. What the FIA ​​does, I have no control over.”

With races still to go in the 2025 season, the battle for the world title remains tight. Villeneuve’s criticism of the FIA ​​highlights the need for more transparency and consistency in the regulations. Whether the FIA ​​will respond to this call remains unclear, but for Verstappen and his fans it is clear that every decision by the race management could have a major 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.