Jacques Villeneuve and Michael Schumacher were renowned rivals on the Formula 1 track in the late 1990s. While the Canadian driver witnessed the dawn of the new millennium, he also saw Schumacher achieve an extraordinary feat—winning five consecutive Drivers’ Championships. However, during recent discussions about Max Verstappen potentially clinching his fifth title this year, Villeneuve appeared to overlook Schumacher’s impressive record, sparking criticism from fans during his Sky Sports show.
Michael Schumacher is widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers in F1 history. He secured his maiden championship in 1994 and successfully defended it a year later. In 1996, he moved to Ferrari, and although the partnership didn’t immediately yield success, patience paid off. From 2000 to 2004, Schumacher dominated the sport by winning five consecutive Drivers’ Championships—a record that still stands today.
Despite this well-documented achievement, Villeneuve mistakenly claimed on Sky Sports that if Max Verstappen were to win his fifth consecutive title, it would be the first time in F1 history this had ever been done. This oversight did not go unnoticed by fans.
Following Villeneuve’s comment, social media users expressed their frustration and called out the former World Champion. One fan tweeted, “Why did Jacques Villeneuve say on the ‘Max is on the charge’ preview that winning five world championships in a row is ‘something that has never been done’? Has he forgotten about Michael Schumacher (2000-2004)?” Others echoed the sentiment, with one writing, “Did Jacques Villeneuve just forget Michael Schumacher won 5 titles in a row?!” and another sarcastically noting, “Jaques Villeneuve: ‘Can VER win 5 in a row, a feat nobody has ever achieved?’ Schumacher family: ‘errrrmmmmmmmmm.’”
Many were puzzled by Villeneuve’s apparent lapse in recalling a pivotal piece of F1 history. “You’d think a WDC like Villeneuve would know his own sports history. How can you say in a promo that no one has ever won five WDC’s in a row? Like, who’s this demon?” one netizen commented.
Some fans even took aim at Villeneuve’s presence on the Sky Sports broadcast during the Mexican Grand Prix weekend. “I f**king hate Jacques Villeneuve lol someone smack him,” one wrote, while another added, “Jaques Villeneuve get off my screen.”
Meanwhile, the Mexican GP qualifying sessions produced notable results. Lando Norris secured pole position, while championship leader Oscar Piastri will start in seventh place. Max Verstappen will begin the race from fifth on the grid, four places behind Norris.
Jacques Villeneuve also shared insights regarding the championship battle between Norris and Piastri. Over the past four race weekends, Norris has made a significant 20-point dent in Piastri’s championship lead, signaling a potential shift in momentum. If the pair finish the Mexican GP in their respective qualifying positions, Norris could overtake Piastri in the Drivers’ standings.
Speaking on the Sky Sports broadcast, Villeneuve explained Norris’s advantage: “Most of the season Norris has had a better handle with his tyres. He did a one-stop surprisingly in Hungary. Momentum is psychological. It brings energy through the whole team.”
As the Mexican Grand Prix unfolds, the battle for the championship intensifies, with fans eagerly watching to see if Verstappen can add to his legacy or if Norris will continue his surge against Piastri’s lead.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/f1/news-has-forgotten-michael-schumacher-fans-react-jacques-villeneuve-forgetting-german-s-feat-winning-5-f1-championships-row
