Villeneuve slams Raikkonen

Jacques Villeneuve, in the latest edition of F1 Racing Magazine, denounced Kimi Raikkonen, Michael Schumacher’s replacement at Ferrari, as “overrated as a driver package."

According to the French/Canadian, Raikkonen isn’t on a par with World Champion Fernando Alonso because of his slovenly work ethic. “Apart from jumping in a car and going fast, he really doesn’t care about the rest," declares Jacques. “A complete driver will spend time with the engineers, setting up the team and pushing the team. He doesn’t give a s**t, so he isn’t up there with Alonso."

The deficiency is so damaging, claims Villeneuve, that both Jenson Button and Felipe Massa will offer Alonso a tougher fight for the World Championship. Villeneuve may have been critical of his former teammates in the past but it is clear that both Massa and Button have since earned his respect. He’s fast, strong and nothing disturbs him," Jacques says of the Honda man. “But he’ll have to be in a position to take a shot at the championship if we’re to see if he is as good as Alonso. That’s highly probable, because he’s at least as good as Kimi."

As for Massa, Villeneuve believes that he will emerge as Ferrari’s lead driver in 2007.

“He’s intelligent, talented quick. With the right equipment, he can be a title contender. Then we’ll see if he’s really a great, or just a good, driver. But he could be great.

“Massa will probably take over as team leader. He and Kimi will definitely challenge each other, but Felipe should finish ahead because of his work ethic."