Jock Clear: “Jacques Villeneuve was a misunderstood driver, he says uncomfortable things”

Clear and Villeneuve won the title in 1997. At the end of 2025, Jock Clear concluded his long experience at Ferrari that began in 2014. The British coach arrived in Maranello after having played in many teams, achieving numerous successes. Clear’s fondest memories, however, date back to his time at Williams in the mid-1990s. Clear was Jacques Villeneuve’s track engineer and experienced Gilles’ son’s ride to the world title in 1997. “I really enjoyed working as an engineer for Jacques Villeneuve – said Clear when reached by CasinoHawks – we stayed in close contact, our families are also very close. I think he was a very misunderstood driver. Sometimes Jacques doesn’t hold back from saying things that perhaps some of us wouldn’t say, but he always does it with Good intentions. He’s a really lovely person. It’s amazing how many times he says things that bother you or that just don’t make sense, but when you look back on it later, you realize he’s right. He had a few conversations like that when he was at Williams, and on a few occasions Adrian Newey chimed in and said, ‘No Patrick, I know you think I’m talking rubbish, but actually Jacques Adrian had obviously been in America and seen what they were doing with the Indy cars, and he would simplify and explain the points.’ Jacques to Patrick Head. Jacques is an incredibly intelligent person and a lovely guy, but sometimes he irritates people.”