Jacques Villeneuve calls thieves of late father’s bronze monument ‘soulless idiots’

Jacques Villeneuve, the son of the late Canadian Formula One driver Gilles Villeneuve, is expressing his outrage at the thieves who stole a bronze statue of his father from outside a Quebec museum dedicated to his memory, referring to them as “idiots.”

The 53-year-old Jacques Villeneuve, who is also a celebrated F1 driver, took to social media over the weekend to share his frustration, stating that he has been unable to sleep since learning about the theft. He described the culprits as “shameless, soulless beings” who do not deserve to be called humans.

The five-foot-three-inch bronze statue was taken sometime between Wednesday night and Thursday morning from a podium in front of the Gilles Villeneuve Museum in Berthierville, Quebec, located about 70 kilometers northeast of Montreal.

A reward of $12,000 has been offered for the safe return of the statue, which can be dropped off at specified locations in the Berthierville area with no questions asked.

Quebec Provincial Police are actively investigating the theft, with Sgt. Eloise Cossette confirming that they have followed up on leads over the weekend but have yet to recover the stolen statue or make any arrests.

The disappearance of the bronze statue, created in 1984 as a tribute to Gilles Villeneuve and displayed outside the museum since 1994, has caused distress among locals who fear that it may be melted down and sold for cash.

The museum, which houses trophies, racing gear, and other memorabilia belonging to Villeneuve, attracts around 5,000 visitors annually. It is situated on the street bearing the name of the renowned driver, but all that remains of the statue are a pair of bronze boots cut off at the ankles.

Gilles Villeneuve, who competed in 67 Formula One races from 1977 to 1982 and won six before tragically passing away in a crash during a qualifying session for the Belgian Grand Prix at the age of 32, holds a special place in the hearts of racing fans worldwide.

In his impassioned social media post on Saturday, Jacques Villeneuve expressed his disbelief at the audacity of the thieves, emphasizing the significance of the monument to his father’s legacy as a representative of Canada and Quebec on the international stage.

“To steal a monument of Gilles, who represented Canada and Quebec internationally, is a disgrace,” Villeneuve stated. “It is incomprehensible how individuals could commit such an act. I believe that those responsible lack both a heart and a brain, and their actions are nothing short of shameful.”

Authorities have pointed out that the theft of a statue of that size would have required at least two individuals, specialized equipment, and a large truck to transport it, underscoring the level of planning and coordination involved in the crime.