Ferrari Must Prioritize Hamilton for 2026 Title Bid, Warns Jacques Villeneuve
Former world champion Jacques Villeneuve asserts that Ferrari needs to concentrate on Lewis Hamilton if they hope to contend for the 2026 Formula 1 drivers' title. Following a remarkable victory at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, Hamilton has narrowed the gap to Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli to just 41 points. Back-to-back retirements for Hamilton's teammate Charles Leclerc have created a 30-point chasm between the two Ferrari drivers. Villeneuve emphasizes that the Italian team must prioritize Hamilton, given that Mercedes is currently unable to favor either Antonelli or George Russell, who sits third in the standings. In a discussion on Sky Sports' The F1 Show podcast, Villeneuve stated: "Lewis knows how to win, and he knows what it takes. And if he gets a sniff of it, there won't be any quarters." He further pointed out that Ferrari's decision is straightforward, as Leclerc is significantly behind in the championship race. Hamilton's first season with Ferrari in 2025 was challenging, as he struggled against Leclerc. However, changes to his engineering team and adjustments by team boss Fred Vasseur have allowed him to regain his competitive edge. Villeneuve notes that Hamilton's resurgence has caught Leclerc off guard, stating: "Leclerc had time to build the team around him and he didn't." He suggests that Leclerc was given a world champion contract too soon and wasn't prepared for the challenge Hamilton presents. As Hamilton adapts and asserts his dominance, Leclerc finds himself unready to respond to the renewed threat.
Source: Sky Sports - 2026-06-17