P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Jacques Villeneuve has insisted that “nobody” would care if Max Verstappen left F1 as opposed to if Lewis Hamilton departed the sport.
Ex-Canadian racing driver Jacques Villeneuve commented on Ferrari’s signing of seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton, highlighting the attention Hamilton has been receiving from the media. Villeneuve compared Hamilton’s move to Ferrari to Michael Schumacher’s transfer in 1996, emphasizing Hamilton’s immense global following and unique impact on Formula 1. Some, like Alpine’s Flavio Briatore, questioned Ferrari’s decision to drop Carlos Sainz for Hamilton, but Villeneuve defended the move, citing the significant value Hamilton brings to the Ferrari brand. Villeneuve believes that having Hamilton alongside Charles Leclerc at Ferrari creates a win-win situation, anticipating an exciting battle for the championship between the two drivers. Despite media speculation about Hamilton’s age and longevity in the sport, Villeneuve defended his capabilities and pointed out similarities with the enduring career of 43-year-old driver Fernando Alonso.
