Villeneuve compares Verstappen with Cristiano Ronaldo: Here's Why!

Villeneuve compares Verstappen and Ronaldo because the Dutchman, like the Portuguese footballer, can really carry a team. “Max Verstappen can ask for whatever he wants, and whatever he asks for, he's worth it. Any team that gets him will perform well. He's a Cristiano Ronaldo. He belongs in that category. At the absolute top. The very best. He really makes a difference within a team,” Villeneuve explained at Vision4Sport.

“His value has nothing to do with image, not because of his Instagram page. It's real, it's lasting value. It's solid,” Villeneuve said about Verstappen's genuine value for the Red Bull Racing team.

There was talk a few weeks ago of a sabbatical for Verstappen, in which he would not race for a year before returning to Formula 1. However, Verstappen himself has said very little about this, and it is neither confirmed nor denied. Villeneuve does raise his doubts though. “You never see him down, he is never tired. As long as he remains passionate, he will continue to race. You don't see him as passionate about anything else,” the Canadian concluded.

Jacques Villeneuve has weighed in on the uncertainty surrounding Max Verstappen’s future at Red Bull, suggesting that the reigning world champion’s long-term contract may not be as watertight as it appears.

Though officially signed through 2028, Villeneuve speculated that Verstappen could have an exit clause tied to team performance—one that could open the door for an early departure. “He has a contract in theory until 2028,” Villeneuve noted. “But if there is a clause he can use, that is a clean break for him. That would explain why they changed their number two driver so quickly.”

Villeneuve identified Aston Martin as a potential landing spot for Verstappen, pointing to the presence of Adrian Newey. “Aston Martin probably would let Max work closely with the engineers, also because Adrian Newey knows how Max works.”