Stroll in-season test program 'hard to swallow' for Villeneuve

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Jacques Villeneuve just won't give his criticism of Lance Stroll a rest, even after the teenager's flawless performance in Baku.

After scoring his first championship points in Canada, Stroll collected a podium finish in Azerbaijan after a calm and composed faultless drive.

While Villeneuve acknowledged the performance and a job well done by the man he recently labeled as the worst rookie in the history of F1, he is still standing by the views he expressed earlier in the season.

"The points in Montreal helped him," Villeneuve told Motorsport.com in Baku.

"He wasn’t quick in Montreal, but everybody broke down, he kept his nose clean, he got points, and that took a weight off his shoulders.

"You could see it today. When everybody was banging into each other, he wasn’t, and his teammate broke down as well.

"Yes, he was lucky, but he was also quick, he didn’t do any stupid things, and he got on the podium. Nothing wrong with that.

"So I don’t know why people are getting so upset. You can’t go out and say ‘he’s amazing’ when he’s a second off the pace of Massa."

Stroll uninterested in 'always negative' Villeneuve

Another point of contention for Villeneuve is Stroll's private in-season testing program, which was revealed by Williams tech boss Paddy Lowe.

Between Montreal and Baku, the 18-year-old spent a day behind the wheel of a 2014-spec Williams in Austin, as he continues to gain experience and refine his skills. And much more testing mileage is scheduled for the rest of the year.

"He did well, but also he’s the only driver who tests between races," Villeneuve said.

"That’s a little bit tough to swallow. Money has to have a limit, and that’s pushing it.

"But apart from that it [Baku] was the first race where he was not hanging on for dear life behind the steering wheel. He was actually relaxed behind the steering wheel, he was driving normally.

"Good, why would I criticise negatively that? But that doesn’t mean the beginning of the season was good."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.