Formula 1: Jacques Villeneuve questions Charles Leclerc and backs Max Verstappen: Former F1 driver and F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve has questioned the ability of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to win the F1 title and has backed the reigning champion Max Verstappen. Leclerc started the F1 2022 season on a high after winning two races out of three, but then sustained reliability issues which allowed Red Bull to run riots. Follow Formula 1 Updates and British Grand Prix Live on InsideSport.IN.
Villeneuve was at the Canadian Grand Prix, which Verstappen won last time around, and said, “Typical Max Verstappen. He is always at 100%. Nothing boring ever happens. His performance status is always optimal and he doesn’t have a single weekend where he has less pace. He doesn’t make any mistakes either. That’s why he is a difficult driver to beat.”
Formula 1: Former F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve questions Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc’s title credentials, backs reigning champ Max Verstappen
Red Bull has won the last six races, with Verstappen taking triumph in five of those. Thus, he has opened up a 49-point gap over Leclerc in the title while the bay between Red Bull and Ferrari in the constructors’ standings is significantly bigger.
UPDATED STANDINGS
Following a post-race penalty in Canada, the tables look like this#CanadianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/Qglw1xz0CB
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 19, 2022
Meanwhile, the Canadian was less impressed by Leclerc, who began from the rear of the grid because of penalties brought about by the utilization of additional engine parts and cleared his path through the field to complete fifth. Some have commended the manner in which he drove in Montreal, yet Villeneuve said he was hoping for something else from somebody with title goals.
“When you are in a Ferrari you just have to have a Red Bull in front of you. Before the race, they received a grid penalty and in their mind fourth place was the maximum, even with [Sergio] Perez still in the race. They have not succeeded. They got points, but it wasn’t enough,” Villeneuve added.
Formula 1: Former F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve questions Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc’s title credentials, backs reigning champ Max Verstappen
“He’s super fast, but at the moment he keeps making mistakes that shouldn’t happen. Let’s take the example of Imola. That doesn’t help. We know he’s fast and aggressive. But is he a world champion? Is he like Max? How does he drive? Pressure? That’s something we need to find out,” Villeneuve concluded.
Ferrari needs to find a solution to their reliability issues soon or else Red Bull will run away with both the titles this year. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz in the last three races had one DNF and two second-place finishes.
On the other hand, Leclerc sustained one DNF in the last three races and had a P4 and P5 finish to his name. Red Bull were quick to solve its reliability issues and they are seeing the results now.
Formula 1: Former F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve questions Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc’s title credentials, backs reigning champ Max Verstappen
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