Outspoken. TO Jacques Villeneuve clarity in expressing one’s ideas has never been lacking and this is also the case. The 1997 F1 world champion, in an interview given to GPFansexpressed his opinions on Charles Leclerc. According to the former Canadian driver, the Monegasque has always been treated like a champion when in reality he hasn’t proven it yet.
Leclerc can boast five victories in the Circus and 32 total podiums in F1 out of 107 GPs contestedhaving to face the hegemonies of Mercedes with Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull with Max Verstappen. Briton who will be his teammate from next year replacing the Spaniard Carlos Sainz. A pairing that will also clarify how Charles will be able to assert his qualities in the presence of a seven-time world champion.
Villeneuve developed his own concept, making a parallelism with the British George Russelllanded in Brackley: “Russell was not brought into Mercedes as a champion, but rather as a youngster who had yet to prove his worth. On the contrary, Charles arrived at Ferrari as a champion, when he wasn’t yet one. And he couldn’t be for beating someone in karting, he has to prove it. Of course he is fast, very fast, but the person who won a GP with the red team last year wasn’t him“, said the Canadian, in reference to the Sainz’s 2023 win in Singapore.
“It will be interesting to understand the balance of power within the Maranello team next year, which will be decisive for Leclerc, but not for Lewis“, concluded Villeneuve.
