Villeneuve recommends parents to "tell kids to do something else" and not race

87cd83c1a652c4b32f5b195365c2682621d1341b

15:54, 16 Jan 2019

Jacques Villeneuve launched a new young driver programme yesterday but admitted he asks parents to "tell kids to do something else" because of the financial pressures in the sport.

The 1997 world champion admits he hates to say it, but would rather not lie. His new programme titled 'Feed Racing' copies a similar style to the academy named 'Volant Elf' which identified and produced great drivers in the 80s and 90s.

"I have the impression today that the financial contribution is more important than talent," Villeneuve explained as he told Canada's Le Journal de Montreal.

"It's a bit unrealistic for a kid to hope for a career as a driver. I've been in the paddocks for a number of years now and I see how it's going and I've really taken notice, perhaps because I have kids too."

"Often, parents come to me and ask 'What should I do to help my son?' and my first response now is 'Tell him to do something else'. It's an awful answer but I'm not able to lie."

Pos.	Driver	Team	Points
1	Kimi Antonelli Kimi Antonelli	MercedesMER	156
2	Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton	FerrariFER	115
3	George Russell George Russell	MercedesMER	106
4	Charles Leclerc Charles Leclerc	FerrariFER	75
5	Lando Norris Lando Norris	McLarenMCL	73
6	Oscar Piastri Oscar Piastri	McLarenMCL	70
7	Max Verstappen Max Verstappen	Red Bull RacingRBR	55
8	Isack Hadjar Isack Hadjar	Red Bull RacingRBR	37
9	Pierre Gasly Pierre Gasly	AlpineALP	32
10	Liam Lawson Liam Lawson	Racing BullsRCB	28
11	Franco Colapinto Franco Colapinto	AlpineALP	19
12	Oliver Bearman Oliver Bearman	HaasHAA	18
13	Arvid Lindblad Arvid Lindblad	Racing BullsRCB	14
14	Carlos Sainz Carlos Sainz	WilliamsWIL	6
15	Alexander Albon Alexander Albon	WilliamsWIL	5
16	Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon	HaasHAA	3
17	Gabriel Bortoleto Gabriel Bortoleto	AudiAUD	2
18	Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso	Aston MartinAST	1
19	Nico Hulkenberg Nico Hulkenberg	AudiAUD	0
20	Valtteri Bottas Valtteri Bottas	CadillacCAD	0
21	Sergio Perez Sergio Perez	CadillacCAD	0
22	Lance Stroll Lance Stroll	Aston MartinAST	0

Villeneuve recommends parents to "tell kids to do something else" and not race

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