Villeneuve, who beat his “arch rival” Schumacher to win the 1997 World Championship, went on another rant against the seven-time champion, insisting he crossed the line when going wheel-to-wheel on the track. The Canadian racing driver had been a thorn in Schumacher’s career and the pair were involved in one of the sports darkest moments. In the final race of the 1997 season, Schumacher was stripped of his second place finish in the final standings after the FIA decided he deliberately tried to ram into Villeneuve.
The governing body stated Schumacher, who ended up spinning out, had tried to gain an advantage in the tittle decider at the Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto circuit in Spain.
It appears Villeneuve has never let that incident go, and continues to criticise the the former Ferrari star despite his ill-health.
During an interview with Swedish newspaper ’Expressen’, Villeneuve, when asked if Schumacher had crossed the line, the 48-year-old said: “Yes, absolutely, because he had a lack of respect for other racers and of racing as such.”
In another interview in October of last year, Villeneuve named his top five best divers of all time and did not mention the most decorated racing driver in the sports history.
Villeneuve said: “There were too many negative things and too many question marks about some races and titles he got.”
Meanwhile, Michael Schumacher’s son, Mick, who emulated his legendary father in the famous red colours of Ferrari in Formula 1’s Bahrain test, did not escape criticism from the Canadian.
Villeneuve insists Ferrari used Mick for his “image” rather than racing ability during last months test around the Bahrain International Circuit.
He said: ”Ferrari currently uses Mick’s image, but if he’s not super fast, he’ll feel it.”
He added: “If he’s not quick and makes mistakes, then he will certainly be criticised hard, he has to deal with it, or let it be, there’s no middle ground.”
Little is publicly known about Michael Schumacher’s current state of health after he suffered serious head injuries during a tragic skiing incident in the french Alps on December 29, 2013.
The Schumacher family continue to keep his health a private matter.
(Additional reporting by Monika Pallenberg)