Jacques Villeneuve believes Lewis Hamilton purposefully slowed down
too late to let Charles Leclerc by at the end of last weekend's
Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Ferrari endured a disappointing weekend at
the Baku City Circuit, which saw Hamilton eliminated in Q2 and
Leclerc crash in Q3. Both drivers made minimal progress in the
race to finish in eighth and ninth, with Hamilton ahead of Leclerc.
The seven-time F1 champion pitted after his team-mate and was
granted permission to overtake Leclerc, given his fresher tyres.
However, it was expected that Hamilton would return the position at
the end, should he fail to make any further progress. Despite his
best efforts, he was unable to overtake those ahead. Hamilton,
ultimately, attempted to let Leclerc past prior to the chequered
flag, but braked too late. Hamilton apologised to Leclerc
post-race, although 1997 F1 champion Villeneuve believes the
40-year-old purposefully made the error due to believing he would
have overtaken the Monégasque even without the team's help. "Lewis
Hamilton played it well. He played it really well," Villeneuve told
a gambling platform. "Ferrari asked Leclerc to let Lewis by, but
they didn’t need to. Lewis then, on the new tyre, was so much
quicker anyway he would have overtaken him. So, the team orders
were unnecessary. "So, I guess that’s why Lewis didn’t really want
to let him by again!" Ferrari targeting 'perfect beginning'
Ferrari's poor result saw the Scuderia slip to third in the
constructors' championship, with Mercedes moving ahead. It marked
the latest poor grand prix of the year for the Maranello-based
squad, who Villeneuve is certain are focusing on next year's new
power unit regulations. "It’s one season," insisted Villeneuve.
"Let’s not forget next year it almost starts from zero for
everyone. "So, it could be a perfect beginning for Ferrari next
season. They get to the first race, the engine is great, the car is
fantastic, and it takes a while for everyone else to catch up.
That’s what they must have in their mind right now. "I don’t think
they’re focusing on the rest of 2025. 2026 is coming."
too late to let Charles Leclerc by at the end of last weekend's
Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Ferrari endured a disappointing weekend at
the Baku City Circuit, which saw Hamilton eliminated in Q2 and
Leclerc crash in Q3. Both drivers made minimal progress in the
race to finish in eighth and ninth, with Hamilton ahead of Leclerc.
The seven-time F1 champion pitted after his team-mate and was
granted permission to overtake Leclerc, given his fresher tyres.
However, it was expected that Hamilton would return the position at
the end, should he fail to make any further progress. Despite his
best efforts, he was unable to overtake those ahead. Hamilton,
ultimately, attempted to let Leclerc past prior to the chequered
flag, but braked too late. Hamilton apologised to Leclerc
post-race, although 1997 F1 champion Villeneuve believes the
40-year-old purposefully made the error due to believing he would
have overtaken the Monégasque even without the team's help. "Lewis
Hamilton played it well. He played it really well," Villeneuve told
a gambling platform. "Ferrari asked Leclerc to let Lewis by, but
they didn’t need to. Lewis then, on the new tyre, was so much
quicker anyway he would have overtaken him. So, the team orders
were unnecessary. "So, I guess that’s why Lewis didn’t really want
to let him by again!" Ferrari targeting 'perfect beginning'
Ferrari's poor result saw the Scuderia slip to third in the
constructors' championship, with Mercedes moving ahead. It marked
the latest poor grand prix of the year for the Maranello-based
squad, who Villeneuve is certain are focusing on next year's new
power unit regulations. "It’s one season," insisted Villeneuve.
"Let’s not forget next year it almost starts from zero for
everyone. "So, it could be a perfect beginning for Ferrari next
season. They get to the first race, the engine is great, the car is
fantastic, and it takes a while for everyone else to catch up.
That’s what they must have in their mind right now. "I don’t think
they’re focusing on the rest of 2025. 2026 is coming."
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