Sao Paulo, Brazil - Jacques Villeneuve branded his rivals "a bunch of sissies" on Friday after they attempted to force the cancellation of the opening qualifying session for Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix.
Several of the drivers drew up a petition against competing in the torrential rain at Interlagos but Canadian Villeneuve criticised them for "insulting" the fans who had turned up to watch.
Former world champion Villeneuve said: "I never saw the petition and if I had I would not have signed it. What would it bring to Formula One for us not to go and qualify? People would think that we are just a bunch of sissies.
"We can't do that. We are paid a whole lot of money and it would be an insult to the fans. Formula One has been hurting for the past couple of years and it's very important for us to give a show and go out there and drive.
"Sure, there is a little risk in those conditions, but not enough not to drive. If you think it is too dangerous then drive slowly."
Villeneuve admitted, however, that running in heavy rain in qualifying, where drivers take to the track one at a time, is different to racing in the same conditions.
He explained: "In qualifying there is only one car on the track at the same time but it is dangerous when you have a lot of cars on the track because a car could spin, stop in the middle of the racing line and you won't see it.
"In race conditions it would be crazy to race with that amount of water."
The controversy came because of a decision by the sport's governing body, the FIA, to introduce a rule in January restricting tyre suppliers Bridgestone and Michelin to just one type of wet weather tyre per race.
Both opted to take intermediate tyres, which work well in damp conditions but give little grip in heavy rain, to Brazil but were greeted with torrential rain.
Villeneuve said the "extremely dangerous" rule makes driving in heavy rain "impossible" and called for it to be changed immediately.
He added: "This rule is a big concern. It has forced the tyre manufacturers into building a wet tyre that will drive until you can put slicks on."
But Villeneuve believes the FIA president Max Mosley will go back on his decision to introduce the rule because of his demands for safety in the sport.
He added: "Max is always trying to make rules that are safe. He is always pushing for safety so I am sure he will see the logic in having two different types of tyres as that will make it a lot safer."
Villeneuve finished seventh in the Friday qualifying session while his BAR-Honda team-mate Jenson Button lost control of his car during his one-lap run and crashed through the polystyrene braking markers. - Sapa-AFP