GP veteran Jacques Villeneuve is sure: Ferrari did well to sign Lewis Hamilton. But the 1997 world champion also insists: Even after winning his 8th title, the Brit is not the greatest of all time.
According to Jacques Villeneuve, Lewis Hamilton’s transfer from Mercedes to Ferrari is the most interesting transfer in Formula 1 since Michael Schumacher joined the Reds from Benetton. The GP veteran explained this in an interview with “The Action Network”. “Regardless of the outcome of the race, Lewis Hamilton is the most popular driver because he has the most followers.”
But the seven-time world champion will not be the greatest of all time if he wins his eighth title with Ferrari, insisted the Canadian. “There is no such thing as the best of all time because cars are made so much and today’s Formula 1 is completely different to what it was in the past,” he explained.
“Take a driver like Jackie Stewart, for example, who has achieved amazing things because he won three world titles when two, three or five drivers lost their lives or were seriously injured every year, and that of the Cars that didn’t make it. Half the races they were used in, ” explained the 1997 champion.
“Still, he won many times, and the same applies to Fittipaldi and other pilots. In a way, two or three titles back is a bigger achievement than five or six World Cup titles today. Because if you now have a higher car, you can win almost 24 races a year because there are 10 more rounds of the World Championship,” added Villeneuve.
The 53-year-old explained that the picture that the numbers show is also distorted, also because the point system has been changed. “The total number of points you receive is 25 points. There were 8, then 9, then 10. That’s why the different eras cannot be compared.”
The eleven-time GP winner does not understand the criticism recently made by Alpine’s special adviser Flavio Briatore about Hamilton’s commitment to Ferrari. “That is a very short view for him because you just have to look at how Ferrari increased in value when they signed Hamilton. Ferrari is not just a racing team, it’s a whole company. And of course they are in it to win, but that also helps them sell more cars and increase the value of the brand,” says Villeneuve.
Formula 1 2025 winter testing
02/26 to February 28 in Bahrain
Formula 1 World Championship 2025
16.03. Australian Physician, Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne
23.03. China-GP, Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai *
06.04. Japan-GP, Suzuka International Racing Course, Suzuka
13.04. Bahrain-GP, Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir
20.04. Saudi-Arabian-GP, Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Dschidda
04.05. Miami-GP, Miami International Autodrome, Miami *
18.05. Emilia Romagna-GP, Autodromo Enzo and Dino Ferrari, Imola
25.05. Monaco-GP, Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo
01.06. Spanien-GP, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Montmeló 15.06. Canada-GP, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal
June 29 Austrian GP, Red Bull Ring, Spielberg
06.07. British GP, Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone
27.07. Belgien-GP, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Business *
03.08. Hungarian GP, Hungary, Budapest
31.08. Dutch GP, Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort
07.09. Italian-GP, Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza
21.09. Azerbaijan-GP, Baku City Circuit, Baku
05.10. Singapore-GP, Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore
19.10. Austin-GP, Circuit of the Americas, Austin *
26.10. Mexico-GP, Autodromo Hermann Rodríguez, Mexico-Stadt 09.11. Brasilien-GP, Autódromo José Carlos Pace, Interlagos * 22.11. Las Vegas-GP, Las Vegas Street Circuit, Las Vegas
30.11. Qatar-GP, Losail International Circuit, Doha *
07.12. Abu Dhabi-GP, Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island
