Williams allegedly bans Villeneuve from its motorhome!

©WRI2

40

Williams has apparently applied its own restraining order against its former world champion Jacques Villeneuve, restricting the Canadian's access to its hospitality unit on race weekends.

The outspoken and often blunt Villeneuve, who attends all races as a consultant for Sky Italia and Canal + France, is paying the price for repeatedly bad mouthing Williams rookie Lance Stroll, calling the teenager the 'worst rookie in the history of F1'.

"With regard to Jacques, he's obviously been pretty vocal in the media," said deputy team boss Claire Williams.

"I don't want to go into a huge amount of detail about it. The way that Lance describes it, he just wants to get on and let his track performance do the talking.

"I think that's what we should do, because that's when the critics will stop -- when Lance proves he deserves to be in Formula 1, which we all at Williams believe anyway," she insisted.

Villeneuve: Stroll criticism was warranted

Lance Stroll's results took a step forward at the Canadian Grand Prix where the local hero scored his first championship points. He then went on to clinch his first podium in Baku where Valtteri Bottas wrestled second place from the rookie mere yards from the checkered flag.

Stroll's progess is clear and impressive given the flak he took previously, and not just from the abrupt M. Villeneuve.

"He has shown to have a strong character and personality, even under pressure," she told Italy's Corriere dello Sport.

"He has been interrogated more than most rookies are but always remained focused and has constantly improved.

"After the first six races he was criticised a lot, but I always responded by recalling the debuts of Vettel, Ricciardo and Raikkonen," Williams explained.

"Honestly I didn't expect him to get on the podium this year, but now that it's happened, we can say that we have a superstar of the future with us."

GALLERY: F1 drivers' wives and girlfriends

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

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.