1997 Method 1 champion Jacques Villeneuve has argued that Lewis Hamilton’s first win with Ferrari on the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix has not solely firmly put the seven-time champion into the title image, however might additionally result in inner pressure together with his team-mate Charles Leclerc.
After beginning the race in Barcelona from second on the grid, Hamilton and Ferrari pulled off a three-stop technique to take the win. Pole-sitter George Russell completed second and McLaren’s Lando Norris accomplished the all-British podium in third.
“Properly, he’s as a result of we will see that issues can go improper, the tempo is there, so it does not take a lot,” Villeneuve instructed Sky Sports activities F1 when requested if Hamilton is effectively and actually within the 2026 title struggle. “And we do not understand how the opposite two drivers can be below stress from a Lewis Hamilton. How will they react?”
Along with Hamilton’s menace to the remainder of the grid, the Canadian argued that his latest kind might trigger inner points on the Maranello outfit, particularly given the contract extension signed by his team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Jacques Villeneuve, former racing driver, walks within the paddock.
Photograph by: Kym Illman / Getty Photographs
“Internally at Ferrari, they only re-signed Leclerc two races in the past for what, the most effective contract ever? Lifetime contract,” Villeneuve continued. “However who’s really getting the factors? Who’s going to the entrance? Lewis. So that may create slightly little bit of points internally as effectively.”
Leclerc was compelled to retire from the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix on lap 64 with energy steering points.
Hamilton at the moment sits second within the drivers’ championship, 41 factors behind chief Kimi Antonelli and 9 factors forward of George Russell in third. Leclerc, who crashed out of his residence race in Monaco and in qualifying for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, sits fourth within the championship.
The F1 paddock now heads to Spielberg for the Austrian Grand Prix from 26-28 June.
Photographs from Barcelona-Catalunya GP – Sunday
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