Villeneuve Does not Get Formula E Hype

Jacques Villeneuve has stated, rather harshly, that nobody involved with F1 would like to watch Formula E races or even care when they are being held. The Canadian is currently a motorsport pundit for Italian television.

“The truth is, in the F1 paddock, nobody even knows when the Formula E races are on,” Villeneuve told Automobile Magazine. “Nobody wants to see electric racing.” The 1997 champion had himself drove in three races in Formula E back in the 2015-16 season.

He raced for Venturi Grand Prix, and had a best finish of 11th in his brief Formula E ‘career’.

When confronted about his own stint in Formula E, Villeneuve explained, “I did a couple of races in Formula E, and I was happy to do them because the technology was interesting. You have power, you step on the gas – well, I probably shouldn’t say gas – you step on the pedal, and you go somewhere.”

The series revamped its development of cars for this season but it does not impress Villeneuve as much as it did others. “I don’t understand why they are pushing it so much. I think it’s a niche thing. The die-hard fans are the only ones who really keep up with it,” he said.

Now, his statement does not hold much water, as a lot of former F1 drivers have driven in the world’s first all-electric racing series over the years. As a matter of fact, all the Formula E champions to date have been former F1 drivers.

One thing that Villeneuve is right about is the fact that Formula E will be a serious competitor to F1 anytime in the near future. The sport has evolved over a period of more than 50 years while Formula E is hardly half-a-decade old.