Former F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve has sparked controversy by claiming Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari move is the most significant driver signing since Michael Schumacher, whilst dismissing Max Verstappen’s importance to the sport.
Speaking yesterday, the 1997 world champion suggested that while Hamilton’s upcoming switch to Ferrari has captured global attention, four-time world champion Verstappen’s potential exit from Formula 1 would generate little interest.
The comments come as Hamilton prepares for his first Ferrari test next week at Fiorano.
“Lewis Hamilton moving to Ferrari is the most high-profile F1 move since Michael Schumacher left Benetton for Ferrari,” Villeneuve told Action Network.
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The Canadian racing legend emphasised the significance of combining two powerful brands.
“Ferrari is also one of the biggest brands in the world, if not the biggest. So put the two together, yeah, of course, it’s amazing,” he added.
The move has already generated significant media attention in Italy, with journalists predicting crowds will gather at Fiorano to witness Hamilton’s first Ferrari test.
In his most controversial remarks, Villeneuve drew a stark contrast between Formula 1’s two biggest stars.
“Take Verstappen out of F1. Nobody cares. Take Hamilton out of F1, people care,” he stated bluntly.
The Canadian emphasised Hamilton’s unique position in the sport, saying: “Independent of race results, Lewis Hamilton is the biggest driver of all time because of all the following he has.
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“He’s very different. He’s unique. He’s broken the mould. There’s a lot that hangs on him. He has the biggest image. His image goes beyond F1.”
Villeneuve believes Hamilton could still achieve success at Ferrari despite turning 40 this month.
“Physically there’s no issue. He’s super fit, he’s super strong, he can go on another 10 years, there’s no problem there,” he said.
The former champion stressed that Hamilton’s longevity would depend on his mental approach.
“It’s all in the head and his desire. Age is not the issue. It’s how (mentally) are you ready to give it all, to do all the training necessary,” Villeneuve explained.
Addressing Ferrari’s business perspective, Villeneuve dismissed recent criticism from Alpine’s Flavio Briatore about Hamilton’s signing.
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“That’s very short-sighted from Briatore suggesting he can’t see the logic of signing Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari,” Villeneuve said.
“You can’t look at Ferrari just as a racing team. It’s a whole industry. Yes, they are there to win, but winning helps them sell more cars and adds to the value of Ferrari.
“Signing Lewis was worth millions and millions, so it was the best move they’ve ever done.”
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