Jacques Villeneuve facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jacques Villeneuve OQ
Villeneuve in 2011
Born	Jacques Joseph Charles Villeneuve (1971-04-09) April 9, 1971 (age 54) Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada
Spouse(s)	Johanna Martinez ​ ​ (m. 2006; div. 2009)​ Camila Andrea López Lillo ​ ​ (m. 2012; div. 2020)​ Giulia Marra ​ (m. 2023)​
Partner(s)	Dannii Minogue (1999–2001)
Children	7
Parent(s)	Gilles Villeneuve (father)
Relatives	Jacques-Joseph Villeneuve (uncle)
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	Canadian
Active years	1996–2006
Teams	Williams, BAR, Renault, Sauber, BMW Sauber
Entries	165 (163 starts)
Championships	1 (1997)
Wins	11
Podiums	23
Career points	235
Pole positions	13
Fastest laps	9
First entry	1996 Australian Grand Prix
First win	1996 European Grand Prix
Last win	1997 Luxembourg Grand Prix
Last entry	2006 German Grand Prix
Champ Car career
33 races run over 2 years
Best finish	1st (1995)
First race	1994 FAI IndyCar Grand Prix (Surfers Paradise)
Last race	1995 Monterey Grand Prix (Laguna Seca)
First win	1994 Texaco/Havoline 200 (Road America)
Last win	1995 Cleveland Grand Prix (Cleveland)
Wins Podiums Poles 5 10 6
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years	2007–2008
Teams	Peugeot
Best finish	2nd (2008)
Class wins	0

Jacques Joseph Charles Villeneuve (born 9 April 1971) is a Canadian former racing driver. He competed in IndyCar from 1994 to 1995 and Formula One from 1996 to 2006. Jacques Villeneuve won the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in 1997 with the Williams team. He also won 11 Grands Prix during his 11 seasons in F1.

In American open-wheel racing, Villeneuve won the IndyCar World Series and the famous Indianapolis 500 race in 1995. He achieved these wins with the Team Green racing team.

Jacques was born in Quebec, Canada, and grew up in Monaco. His father, Gilles Villeneuve, was also a Formula One driver. His uncle, Jacques-Joseph, was also a racing driver. Jacques started racing at age 17 in Italy. He then moved up to higher racing series like the Toyota Atlantic Championship.

In 1994, he joined the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) series. He finished sixth in the championship and was named "Rookie of the Year." The next year, in 1995, Villeneuve won four races, including the Indianapolis 500. He also won the overall Drivers' Championship that year.

Villeneuve joined the Williams team in Formula One for the 1996 season. He won four Grand Prix races and finished second in the World Drivers' Championship. This was a great achievement for a rookie driver. In 1997, he battled Ferrari's Michael Schumacher for the title. Jacques won the championship after a dramatic final race, becoming the first Canadian F1 World Champion.

After his championship win, Villeneuve continued to race in Formula One until 2006. He drove for teams like BAR, Renault, Sauber, and BMW Sauber. After leaving F1, he competed in other types of racing, including sports car racing, NASCAR, and touring car racing. He won the 2008 1000 km of Spa race with Peugeot.

Jacques Villeneuve has received many honors for his racing career. He was made an Officer of the National Order of Quebec in 1998. He also won the Lou Marsh Trophy and the Lionel Conacher Award in 1995 and 1997. He is a member of the Canadian Motor Sports Hall of Fame, Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, and the FIA Hall of Fame.

Early Life and Family

Jacques Villeneuve was born on April 9, 1971, in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, a town near Montreal in Quebec, Canada. His parents were Gilles Villeneuve, a famous Ferrari racer, and Joann Barthe. Jacques has a sister named Melanie and a half-sister named Jessica. He was named after his uncle, Jacques Sr., who was also a racing driver. Jacques spent much of his childhood traveling with his parents to different race tracks.

In 1978, when Jacques was seven, his family moved from Quebec to Monaco. This move brought them closer to Ferrari's headquarters in Europe. From ages 12 to 17, Jacques attended a private boarding school in Switzerland called Collège Alpin International Beau Soleil. He was very good at skiing and also tried sports like BASE jumping, ice hockey, motocross, and water skiing.

Starting His Racing Journey

Jacques's mother knew he wanted to race from a young age. He often went go-karting with his uncle in Canada. In May 1982, his father passed away in a racing accident. After this, Jacques was less interested in racing because he worried about the dangers. However, in 1984, he asked his mother if he could race like his father. She agreed, but only if he improved his math grades.

In 1985, Jacques was invited to race a go-kart in Italy. He impressed the track owners and was allowed to test a Formula 4 car. In 1986, his uncle enrolled him in the Jim Russell Racing Driver School in Mont Tremblant, where he learned to drive a Formula Ford 1600 car.

In 1987, Villeneuve went to the Spenard-David Racing School to improve his skills. He didn't have money for the course, so he worked in a mechanics' training program to pay for it. At 17, he made his car racing debut in the Italian Touring Car Championship. He got an international racing license from Andorra because he was too young for a Canadian or Italian license. His first races were not very successful.

The car Villeneuve drove in the 1989 Italian Formula 3 Championship

Villeneuve then signed a three-year contract to race in the Italian Formula Three Championship. He struggled at first but improved his driving with help from the Magione Driving School. In 1989, he didn't score any points. In 1990, he finished 14th with ten points. By 1991, he was considered a top contender, finishing sixth overall with 20 points and three podium finishes.

The Toyota TS010 car Villeneuve shared with Eddie Irvine and Tom Kristensen at Mine Circuit.

In 1992, Villeneuve moved to Japan to race in the Japanese Formula 3 Championship. He won three races and finished second in the championship. This showed the racing world that he was a serious talent. He also raced in a Formula Atlantic event in Canada, finishing third. Later that year, he tested a Group C Toyota car and raced in the Macau Grand Prix.

In 1992, Villeneuve met Barry Green, who wanted him to drive for his new team. Jacques signed a three-year contract. In 1993, he raced in the lower-tier Atlantic Championship to get used to American open-wheel racing. He won five races and finished third overall, earning the "Rookie of the Year" award for the series.

CART Racing Success (1994–1995)

Villeneuve's 1995 Indianapolis 500 winning car

Jacques Villeneuve started racing in the CART series in 1994. He finished second in his first Indianapolis 500 race, earning "Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year" honors. Later that year, he won his first CART race at Road America. He ended the season sixth in the championship and was named "Rookie of the Year" for the CART series.

Villeneuve racing in the 1995 PPG IndyCar World Series at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

In 1995, Villeneuve stayed with Team Green. He won the first race of the season in Miami. His biggest win was the Indianapolis 500. Even though he was penalized two laps early in the race, he fought back to win. This victory put him in the lead for the championship. He went on to win two more races and secured the CART championship title at the final race. He finished the season with 172 points, four wins, and six pole positions.

Formula One Career

Joining Williams (1996–1998)

In 1995, the Williams Formula One team became interested in Jacques Villeneuve. He tested a Williams car and signed a contract to race for them in 1996 and 1997, with an option for 1998. He spent six months testing and learning the European race tracks.

1996 Season

Villeneuve driving for Williams at the 1996 Canadian Grand Prix

In his first F1 race in Australia, Villeneuve started from pole position, which is very rare for a rookie. He finished second despite a problem with his car. Three races later, he won his first F1 race in Europe. He won three more races that year in Britain, Hungary, and Portugal. He finished second in the championship to his teammate, Damon Hill. Jacques was the first rookie to win four Grand Prix races and finish as runner-up in his first F1 season.

1997 Season

Jacques Villeneuve racing the Williams FW19 car at the 1997 British Grand Prix.

For the 1997 season, Villeneuve became the lead driver for Williams. He competed against Michael Schumacher for the championship. Jacques trained hard and drove a very good car. He won seven Grand Prix races and started from pole position eight times. At the final race in Europe, he and Schumacher were very close in points. Jacques started from pole position. During the race, he and Schumacher had a collision, which led to Schumacher retiring. This meant Jacques won the championship! He became the second driver ever to win the F1 World Championship, the CART title, and the Indianapolis 500. He was also Canada's first F1 World Champion.

1998 Season

In 1998, Villeneuve stayed with Williams. However, their car was not as competitive because their engine supplier, Renault, had left F1. He scored points in nine races, with his best finishes being two third places in Germany and Hungary. He finished fifth in the Drivers' Championship with 21 points.

British American Racing (1999–2003)

After 1998, Villeneuve left Williams to join the new British American Racing (BAR) team. He wanted to help build a team from the ground up, similar to how Michael Schumacher had done with Ferrari.

1999–2000 Seasons

Villeneuve competing for British American Racing at the 2000 Belgian Grand Prix.

In 1999, BAR's car was fast but often broke down. Villeneuve failed to finish the first eleven races due to mechanical problems or crashes. He didn't score any points that season.

For the 2000 season, BAR's car had a more reliable Honda engine. Villeneuve's performance improved significantly. He finished fourth in Australia, France, Austria, and the United States. He scored points in the final two races as well. He finished seventh in the Drivers' Championship with 17 points.

2001–2003 Seasons

Villeneuve driving his BAR 003 at the 2001 Spanish Grand Prix

Villeneuve signed a new three-year contract with BAR for the 2001 season. He aimed to win a race and finish third in the championship. His car was reliable but lacked power. He achieved BAR's first two podium finishes, coming in third in Spain and Germany. He finished seventh in the Drivers' Championship with 12 points.

Villeneuve testing the BAR 004 car in 2002

In 2002, Villeneuve continued with BAR. The car was less reliable and slower than the previous year. He scored four points, with his best result being a fourth place in Britain. He regretted staying with BAR due to the lack of good results.

For the 2003 season, Villeneuve remained at BAR and was partnered with Jenson Button. Their relationship was difficult at first. Villeneuve struggled with mechanical problems and was often outperformed by his teammate. He finished sixth in Brazil and Italy. Before the final race, BAR told him he was no longer needed, and he was replaced by Takuma Sato. He finished 16th in the championship with 6 points.

Renault and Sauber (2004–2006)

Villeneuve qualifying for Sauber at the 2005 United States Grand Prix.

After leaving BAR, Villeneuve took a break from F1. He considered racing in NASCAR. In mid-2004, he signed a two-year contract with the Sauber team to race from 2005. Before joining Sauber, he raced three final races for Renault in 2004 to help them in the championship. He didn't score any points in these races.

At Sauber in 2005, Villeneuve had a car that was difficult to handle due to limited testing and development money. He finished a season-high fourth in San Marino and scored more points in France and Belgium. He finished 14th in the Drivers' Championship with 9 points.

Villeneuve racing at the 2006 Canadian Grand Prix for the BMW Sauber

For the 2006 season, Villeneuve stayed with the team, which was renamed BMW Sauber after BMW bought it. He felt comfortable with the team. However, the team principal criticized him for not getting better results. After an accident in Germany, his contract was ended, and he was replaced by Robert Kubica. He finished 15th in the championship with 7 points. Villeneuve tried twice to return to F1 in 2010 and 2011 but was unsuccessful.

Life After Formula One

2007–2010 Racing Activities

Villeneuve driving the No. 7 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP at the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans

After leaving F1, Villeneuve explored racing in NASCAR. He also made his debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 2007 with Peugeot. He wanted to achieve the "Triple Crown of Motorsport," which means winning the Monaco Grand Prix (which he did in F1), the Indianapolis 500 (which he did in CART), and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He had to retire from the 2007 Le Mans race due to engine trouble.

In 2007, he also raced in seven NASCAR Truck Series events and two Nextel Cup Series races. In 2008, he raced in the Speedcar Series and won the 1000 km of Spa race for Peugeot, his first win in 11 years. He finished second at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2008. He also raced in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and Top Race V6 Argentina.

In 2009, Villeneuve continued in the Speedcar Series and made appearances in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. He also entered the Spa 24 Hours race and Top Race V6 Argentina. In 2010, he raced in several NASCAR Nationwide Series road course events, finishing third in Montreal. He also competed in the V8 Supercar Championship in Australia.

2011–Present Racing Activities

Villeneuve racing the No. 22 Dodge at the 2011 Bucyrus 200

In 2011, Villeneuve raced in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for Penske Racing, finishing third at Road America. He also competed in a Stock Car Brasil race. In 2012, he continued in the Nationwide Series, finishing third in Montreal again. He also filled in for an injured driver in the V8 Supercars Championship.

Villeneuve competing at the 2012 Coates Hire Ipswich 300

Villeneuve during the 2013 Toyota/Save Mart 350

In 2013, Villeneuve raced in the FFSA GT Championship and made one appearance in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He also finished fifth in a NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race.

Villeneuve driving a Peugeot 208 Supercar at the 2014 World RX of Great Britain

In 2014, Villeneuve joined the FIA World Rallycross Championship part-time. He also returned to the Indianapolis 500 for the first time in 19 years, finishing 14th.

Villeneuve during qualifying at the 2015 Punta del Este ePrix

In 2015, he raced in Stock Car Brasil. He then joined the all-electric Formula E series for the 2015–16 season. However, his time there was short, and he left the team early in 2016. In 2018, he returned to rallycross for one race.

In 2019, Villeneuve raced in the Italian GT Championship, finishing second in one race. He also made his debut in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, finishing eighth overall with two pole positions. He continued in the Euro Series in 2020 and 2021, winning his first two races in the series at Vallelunga in 2021. He left the series after 2021 to focus on his F1 commentary work.

In 2022, Villeneuve returned to the NASCAR Cup Series for the Daytona 500, finishing 22nd. In 2023, he competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship in the Hypercar category for three races before leaving the team.

Other Activities and Personal Life

Villeneuve started writing song lyrics while racing in Japan. In 2007, he released his debut acoustic rock album called Private Paradise. It had 13 songs, some in French and some in English. The album received mixed reviews.

Villeneuve carrying the Olympic flag into BC Place during the 2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

Jacques Villeneuve has also appeared on TV shows and in a movie. He had a small role as a racing driver in the 2001 film Driven. He carried the Olympic torch in Montreal in 2009 and the Olympic flag at the opening ceremony in 2010. He also voiced a character in the 2011 animated film Cars 2 for the French version.

Since 2013, Villeneuve has worked as a commentator for Sky Sport in Italy and Canal+ in France, sharing his racing knowledge. He also comments for Sky Sports in Britain. He helped design the Area 27 racing track in British Columbia, Canada. In 2025, he became an ambassador for the Williams Formula One team.

Villeneuve has been married three times. He first married Johanna Martinez in 2006, and they had two children before divorcing in 2009. In 2012, he married Camila Andrea López Lillo, and they had two children. In 2023, he married Giulia Marra, with whom he has a son and a daughter.

Racing Results

Career Summary

See also

In Spanish: Jacques Villeneuve para niños