No one is quite really sure what Jacques Villeneuve's issue with Lance Stroll is but it is increasingly clear that the Canadian teenage sensation has grown sick and tired of his compatriot's constant needling.

Stroll, preparing for this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix with his Williams team, shrugged off Villeneuve's latest comments with the air of a man no longer concerned by what his illustrious countryman has to say about him.

Villeneuve, who powered a Williams to his world F1 title in 1997 has been a vocal critic of Stroll since he entered the Formula One arena last year as a precocious 18-year-old.

The 46-year-old Canadian has often been brutal in his analysis of Stroll's performances in the Williams and his unrelenting negativity towards the youngster continued with his latest comments.

Villeneuve has suggested that Williams reserve driver Robert Kubica may conspire to take the seat of either Stroll or Sergey Sirotkin as the season progresses.

Firstly, the Polish veteran Kubica is unlikely to be overly pleased with an analysis which portrays him in a sinister light but also it hints that Stroll may not be up to the job of steering the Williams to success.

Asked to comment on Villeneuve's startling theory, Stroll seemed exasperated at yet again having to deal with his compatriot's unhelpful remarks.

"I'm not aware of this story. I have not read his comments, so I cannot comment on them," Stroll told reporters in Bahrain, per Planet F1.

He added: "Last year he said I was the worst rookie in F1. But the last time I checked, I managed a podium.

"I started from the first row, I collected 40 points – three less than my teammate who had 16 years of experience.

"So I do not listen to what Jacques has to say. I have many other priorities on my list before I get to him."

Very well said...

Perhaps Villeneuve wishes to toughen up the young Canadian protege with an unrelenting diet of tough love but whatever his reasoning, it seems that Stroll has had enough as he seeks to concentrate on carving out his own piece of history in a Williams car.