Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 F1 World Champion.
Sky F1 have announced that 1997 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve will join their punditry line-up for the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend.
This weekend, the ex-Williams and BAR driver will make a special appearance with the British-based channel. Renowned as a motorsport pundit across the globe, the driver has become a familiar face in the industry.
Jacques Villeneuve to join Sky F1 team at Canadian Grand Prix
In addition to his racing career, Villeneuve has established himself as a prolific motorsport pundit, appearing on various channels worldwide. He had previously made an appearance on the channel during the 2012 edition of the Canadian Grand Prix.
Having served as a commentator for Canal+ in France and Sky Italia, the 1997 World Champion has earned a reputation for expressing candid perspectives on the realm of Formula 1, according to his own observations.
The 53-year-old will be making appearances on all of Sky F1’s race coverage this weekend at his home circuit.
Which other presenters, commentators and pundits are on the Sky F1 line-up?
Sky F1 presenters: Confirmed line-up for the F1 2024 season
New commentator ‘honoured’ as Sky F1 make big change for Imola GP weekend
Over the years, Villeneuve’s opinions have frequently grabbed attention, and he has been prominently featured in recent months on PlanetF1.com. In his latest interview, he delved into the challenges of the current Formula 1 calendar and expressed his thoughts on concluding the season with a three back-to-back races across the globe.
“That’s gonna be brutal,” he said in our most recent exclusive at the start of the year.
In the upcoming 2023 season, there will be a challenging double-header towards the end. Specifically, flying back from Vegas can be quite a task due to the complexities of the airport. However, it is manageable for a large team as they have the option to hire a spacious aircraft, accommodating all the mechanics, and ensuring a smooth journey.
“The media is facing a harsh reality amidst all the ongoing changes. The expenses for hotels, travel, and other logistical aspects have skyrocketed, making these trips exceedingly complex.”
However, teams are resourceful and manage to find ways to travel despite the challenges. Although staff rotations can be effective, they can also be demanding for the staff. Additionally, traveling in the wrong timezone direction can be detrimental as it results in losing time instead of gaining it.
Setting everything up, including team arrangements, catering, and all the necessary tasks, can be incredibly hectic. It consumes a significant amount of time, which can be a bit challenging.
Having three consecutive races, despite Qatar’s proximity, will be extremely exhausting, particularly towards the end of the year when the season concludes in December. The challenge is not only demanding for the drivers but also for the mechanics.
Read next: The foolproof Canadian GP formula that new US F1 venues should copy
