Jul.5 - Jacques Villeneuve has slammed the "idiots" who broke through spectator fencing to sit on the racing line and disrupt Sunday's British GP at Silverstone.

Fellow world champion Lewis Hamilton actually defended the anti-oil protesters, although Mercedes helped the 37-year-old to walk that back in a subsequent team statement.

But yet another world champion, quadruple title winner Sebastian Vettel, also sided with the environmental crusaders.

"I think these people are not acting out of frustration, they are desperate," said the Aston Martin driver. "I can understand their fears and concerns very well."

He acknowledged, however, that such actions "endanger the people involved in the race weekend".

Outspoken 1997 champion Jacques Villeneuve, on the other hand, was scathing of the "idiots".

"I was shocked by the images," he told the Dutch publication Formule 1.

"How stupid can you be? Do they have any idea how dangerous that is for themselves and the drivers? Cars coming at you at 300 kph is a bit different from running naked across a field.

"Completely ridiculous," the 51-year-old said.


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37 F1 Fan comments on “Shocked Villeneuve slams climate protest 'idiots'

  1. CanadianEh

    I suspect that the contracts between Saudi Aramco (Aston Martin) and Petronas (Mercedes-Benz)have a number of clauses that clearly specify that their image cannot be defamed by any member of the team. Period.

    When hypocritical virtue-signaller's like Dame Lucille and Vettel get up on their marble column's (capes flapping gently in their wind) and express support for the environmental protesters, they are likely approaching the "bad-things-happen" threshold.

    I can imagine the phone calls.

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    • Susan

      Both drivers show unbridled hypocrisy. If their convictions are that strong, stop racing. Hamilton has multiple high end gas guzzlers autos, multiple residents that use up precious resources and they both fly in gas guzzling private jets. They both should lead by example not by cheap rhetoric.

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      • CanadianEh

        LOL. No, I mean quit literally a cape, like Dracula wears, or some select super-hero's. And don't forget The Dame's cape is gently flapping in HIS breeze. Same as Shakespeare's "windy argument".

        That bit about a tutu and tiara cracked me up, though. Works for me!!

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  2. ReallyOldRacer

    I still don't know if the sit-in followed the red flag or preceded it. It SOUNDS like the dolts did their thing during, not before, the flag. If so, no biggie and nothing like the priest in 2003. Huge difference and I cannot find a definitive reference. Please, no 'fake news', just a link to the facts if you have one.

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      • ReallyOldRacer

        Thx, Jere. So, as I understand it zero race cars passed the demonstration site. as they were already back in pit lane. Not much danger in their actions. Journo' excess.

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        • Shroppyfly

          The only the demonstrators were unhappy with was the red flag,they'd heard Hamilton was going to stop on track and whinge a bit ,feign a bad back,and they'd be able to get an autograph of the best Dame in the business...!

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        • Jere Jyrälä

          No, all drivers indeed passed them as the invaders appeared beside the overpass bridge on Wellington straight while the leaders had just entered the straight or exited Aintree corner, so one was in the pit lane yet.

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          • ReallyOldRacer

            Thx, Jere, I still haven't seen sequence pics. Hate to beat this into the ground, but is there a link to the actual timing of these dolts actions? Again, thx for the info.

            BTW, a red flag used to neam stop immediately in a safe place.and wait for instructions None of this cruising back to the pits for service and comfort.

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  3. Donalf

    Not mentioning any drivers names but after a lot of comments made on this platform DRIVERS should stick with driving that's what their paid to do and to impress the fans around the world with their exceptional driving skills instead of playing at politics to boost their own egos., they can do that when they retire. "let's go racing fight it out on track"

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  4. Michael

    A driver can do both. As long as their comments aren't a distraction from their racing. Lewis had one of is better outings this year.
    I also reject the argument that you're a hypocrite if you take a position that conflicts with your day to day behavior. Tu quoque fallacy — focuses on the hypocrisy of an opponent. Thats really a shallow simpletons argument. I thought racing fans were smarter than than. Not this bunch.

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    • Donalf

      Yes but I am a simpleton you see. 🤣 a retired old man who's only pleasure is to watch f1 racing no more & no less, not interested in the hullabaloo.

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      • Michael

        Sure I get it. You don't care about anything but your own selfish desires. You don't care about the planet or the people on it. As long as you are entertained, thats all that matters. Well its too bad. Get over it and quite your whining!

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        • Donalf

          My! My! My you do get your nickers in a twist don't you, just to let you know quit is spelt as quit and not quite., oh and I spend £120:0 a year on wild bird food that makes mea happy chappie. Sleep tight.

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          • Michael

            Kind of embarrassing to correct someone on their spelling only to realize you did the same thing. I don't really care if I misspell now and then because it lets you know I am not AI and because I could give a good GD about talking to know nothings like yourself. Hope your having a nice warm summer.

          • Michael

            Slur? Read into it what you will. Wipe the drool off while your at it. Its so sad that so many of you can't enjoy a race and also bear a little reminder about a political issue (regardless of whether you agree with it or not.) I have never heard so much whining in my life. I hope you remember that your nice hot summer isn't as hot as hell is going to be :)

          • Susan

            Michael, it appears you suffer from anger issues. You seem not to be able to comment about anything without name calling or belittling someone. Maybe when you grow up it will be easier to express yourself with more maturity.

    • shroppyfly

      wow and i thought i was opinionated, not to happy about being called a simpleton, ill let this one go Michael
      Whats the opposite of a simpleton?

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  5. Susan

    Michael, not sure how someone can do both. It appears Sir Louise and Vettel are dedicated environmentalists. In one breath, they condemn the evils of fossil fuels and the damage it does to the earth, then turn around a drive fossil fuel-driven cars and in Louise’s case, own multiple gas-guzzling cars, fly in private jets, powered by fossil fuels, own multiple residences, and you don’t think that is hypocritical? Maybe you should careful who you call simpleton.

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    • shroppyfly

      Heh Susan , Dont be so hard on Michael, hes seen Mrs Thunberg driving around in her New Mercedes Petrol thats why hes confused about things...oops i read his post incorrectly, Im actually a SHALLOW simpleton, hell not sure i can let that one go lol, as for Sir Louises houses, they are apparantly , and this is from the Dame herself , they are all powered by methane.... sorry Bull*hit

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    • Twisty Knickers

      You people are so silly. This is a common debating tactic. Everything a person says can be completely ignored because you find one seemingly contradictory act. They said this about Al Gore when he flew on an airplane. This type of debating tactic (And its nothing more than that unless you thing this hot Euro summer is normal,) is just to make you feel good. Kill the messenger. Is this how you all deal with anything you disagree with? I think simpleton is the correct word. Actually its too nice. I know women read this board. And you too Susan. :)

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  6. Susan

    Not sure his apartment in NYC would be allowed to be run on methane. Only slightly dangerous. Flammable and all. Michael is entitled to be a part of Louise’s fan club. I get it but that doesn’t change reality, he is still an self centered, egotistical hypocrite. Do as I say, not as I do should not get a pass, by anybody.

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    • Michael

      Again, I am not really a Lewis fan. But I do care about the environment. I do understand that you want to bundle your hatred of Lewis up with you hatred of environmentalist to make things simple. Oh there's that word again.

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  7. Susan

    Just a quick follow up. Methane gas is a greenhouse gas more than carbon dioxide. Louise may have a slight problem with the “greenies” over that
    Methane gas is dangerous. Methane gas is a greenhouse gas, which is a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide over shorter periods of time. In fact, it is 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide when trapping heat over a 100 year period.

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  8. Shroppyfly

    Susan, let me hit the pause button for you? The reference to methane was tenuous I'll give you that but cows and bulls breaking wind produce methane so cows/bulls/methane/bull$hit/Dame

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  9. Michael

    For the record, the bulk of methane emissions come from cows belching, not farting. Not as funny I'm sure but its true. And I am not necessarily a Hamilton fan, but I will acknowledge when he has a good race. And the hyprocrisy argument is nothing more than ad hominem. You can dismiss everything a person says because you brand then with this tag. While I am sure that makes you all comfortable, its transparent and it ignores the real issue that no one ever seems to address. But thats to be expe3cted here.

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    • Shroppyfly

      I started reading your post, got about half waý through and thought sod it,I'm so bored....

      Distinct lack of sarcasm/humour with some posts.

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      • Michael

        Again, I am not really a Lewis fan. But I do care about the environment. I do understand that you want to bundle your hatred of Lewis up with you hatred of environmentalist to make things simple. Oh there's that word again.

        We will try to keep the sentences shorter in future comments because Slopperfly can't concentrate that long.

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    • CanadianEh

      You're one of those guys that says to the waiter: "You may serve us now."

      The "hypocrisy argument" being ad hominem is nonsense. You are: a) not reading the posts in context with the head-line article; b) stirring the shit with your not-so-subtle racist jibes; and,
      c) expressing irrational views based on your deluded pathology.

      Then you mince around "the issue that no-one ever seems to address". Quit being so obtuse. I dislike Dame Lucille because she's an entitled, social justice warrior dripping with worldly angst and an over-blown sense of her place in the world. I could care less whether he's black or not. Vettel is of the same ilk. BTW, they are both great drivers.

      If you want to criticize the people posting, then do so. Don't come in here and start spewing your legalese and jibes and trying to be so clever, you fu_king tw_t.

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      • Worried about Canadians mental health

        And I'm the one with anger issues? Saying something is nonsense is an assertion. What followed did nothing to address the core point. People are allowed to be concerned about the environment with out living in a cave.
        Words have very specific meanings. Using concise terms makes for brevity and y'all understand them. I'm sorry that reminds you of a lawyer, but if your constantly in trouble with the law, that's not my problem. Chill brother.

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