Jacques Villeneuve

Jacques Joseph Charles Villeneuve (April 9, 1971 - Present): A Canadian racing driver, Jacques Villeneuve won the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in 1997 with Williams, becoming Canada's first and only Formula One World Champion. The son of legendary Ferrari driver Gilles Villeneuve, who was killed in practice at the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix, Jacques competed in Formula One from 1996 to 2006, winning 11 Grands Prix and achieving 23 podiums. Before entering Formula One, Villeneuve dominated American open-wheel racing, winning the 1995 IndyCar championship and Indianapolis 500 at age 24, becoming the youngest winner of both titles. His success caught the attention of Williams, who signed him for the 1996 season.

Villeneuve immediately impressed, finishing runner-up to teammate Damon Hill in his rookie season. In 1997, he engaged in a fierce championship battle with Michael Schumacher that came down to the final race at Jerez. The dramatic season finale saw Schumacher and Villeneuve collide, with Schumacher retiring and Villeneuve finishing third to secure the title. This made him the second driver (after Mario Andretti) to win the Formula One World Championship, CART title, and Indianapolis 500.

After his championship success, Villeneuve's career declined as he moved to less competitive teams including BAR, Renault, Sauber, and BMW Sauber. Known for his outspoken personality, distinctive blonde-highlighted hair, and musical interests, Villeneuve has remained involved in racing after his F1 career, competing in various series including NASCAR, sports cars, and rallycross.