1997 Formula 1 champion Jacques Villeneuve has highlighted how Ferrari managed Charles Leclerc’s position within the team prior to signing Lewis Hamilton.
The upcoming 2024 season’s first race is less than a month away, and the rumor mill has already started spinning. Lewis Hamilton has announced his surprising move to Ferrari starting from 2025. However, before the season kicks off, former driver Jacques Villeneuve has made some daring statements about Ferrari’s decision.
The seven-time world champion will be paired with Charles Leclerc in 2025, potentially leading to intense competition and impressive results for the team. Both drivers excel in their respective areas and will undoubtedly push each other to their limits. In order to secure consistent results and minimize errors during races, Ferrari needs to pursue a championship. Hamilton believes that the team has the capability to deliver title wins for the drivers and should therefore support them accordingly.
When asked about Charles Leclerc’s reaction to Hamilton’s signing, Villeneuve dismissed any notion of anger, stating that Leclerc had no reason to be upset since Hamilton is the most successful driver ever. Furthermore, it is rumored that Leclerc was offered a lucrative multi-year contract to remain silent about Hamilton’s arrival, a deal that apparently took him by surprise.
Villeneuve also predicted that Hamilton’s arrival would create a divide within the team. This is because both drivers excel in their respective areas and have achieved remarkable results. However, the split would add excitement for both the drivers and the fans alike.
Witnessing Hamilton excel with Ferrari would be a delight, as the Italian team would rekindle the greatness of their past days, thanks to him. Additionally, the seven-time world champion has nothing to lose, as he has not won a race in the past two seasons. For Hamilton, finishing his career with Ferrari would be a dream come true, according to Villeneuve.
Before making the move to Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton still has one final year with Mercedes. Therefore, he will strive to achieve the best possible results in his last season with the team and prepare himself for working alongside Charles Leclerc. In the midst of all this news, it is expected that the current driver, whose name has been omitted, will be leaving the team next year and is currently without a contract starting from 2025.