Jacques Villeneuve believes compatriot Lance Stroll drove dangerously during the 2022 United States Grand Prix, and should be suspended for his incident with Fernando Alonso.
The Canadian was reflecting on what he dubbed an "exciting race in America", although it was not always "for the right reasons" pointing out "masterful driving", but also "dangerous actions and drivers" simultaneously.
"When I talk about dangerous driving, I’m talking about Lance Stroll," Villeneuve said in his formule1.nl column. "He should be suspended for one race for the Fernando Alonso incident.
"The FIA has been very lax in both Formula 1 and lower classes with drivers swinging out on the straight when that is the most dangerous thing there is, and the last thing you want to see.
"It is pathetic and extremely dangerous," the 1997 F1 Champion insisted.
We've been lucky things didn't go before
"By swinging out on the straight, you endanger other drivers – possibly fatally. Because you can cause a huge accident like that," he explained. "And that’s because you consciously decide to do something like that, not because you’re making a mistake. So it’s really unacceptable.
"The FIA needs to step up and hand out more penalties for this kind of action," the 51-year-old added. "Even if it doesn’t lead to an accident. Because we have been lucky that it didn’t go wrong before.
"And it already starts in the lower classes," he pointed out. "In Formula 4 and Formula 3 you sometimes see guys driving like they are in a video game. But racing is dangerous and this has nothing to do with racing – or defending well.
"Alonso was lucky that it ended well for him," Villeneuve remarked. "In fact it was quite bizarre: he managed to bring the car back to the pits and after they sent it out with a new nose and new tires he was still able to compete and score points!
"That Alpine is apparently as sturdy as a tank… and Alonso drove impressively," the winner of 11 grands prix concluded.
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