F1 News: Charles Leclerc "Can't Be Happy" With Lewis Hamilton Move - "Two Camps In Ferrari"
Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 F1 World Champion, has expressed his views on the dynamic shift expected with Lewis Hamilton's impending move to the team in 2025. Villeneuve speculates that Charles Leclerc, Ferrari's current star, may find the arrival of the seven-time world champion less than welcome.
Key Takeaways:
- Jacques Villeneuve predicts tension at Ferrari with Lewis Hamilton's arrival, suggesting Charles Leclerc may be unsettled.
- The early re-signing of Leclerc by Ferrari is seen as a move to secure his position before Hamilton joins the team.
- Villeneuve hints at the potential resurgence of an "amazing Lewis" Hamilton, rejuvenated by the new challenge at Ferrari.
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Villeneuve believes that Charles Leclerc, despite being highly touted within Ferrari as a future champion, may not be entirely pleased with Hamilton's arrival. According to Villeneuve, the rapid re-signing of Leclerc was a strategic move by a faction within Ferrari aiming to secure his position before the introduction of a racing titan like Hamilton. Villeneuve commented:
“It was curious how quickly they resigned Leclerc, how quickly they pushed that through. It will give a kick to Leclerc as well. He’s been promoted as a champion but he hasn’t shown it yet. Now we will see his mettle and what he is really made of.”
The presence of Hamilton, a driver with nothing left to prove given his seven championship titles, could either be a catalyst for Leclerc's rise or a source of intense rivalry. Villeneuve's observations suggest the emergence of "two camps" within the team, with one faction seemingly in favour of Leclerc's primacy being challenged by Hamilton's competitive spirit. He continued:
“It looks like there are two camps in Ferrari now. One that has been protecting Leclerc and said we have to re-sign him before Lewis arrives.
"Leclerc can’t be happy having a seven-time world champion, the biggest name in F1 in racing history next to him, when he himself has been promoted as the next ‘champion.’"
The potential for Leclerc to elevate his status by outperforming Hamilton is significant, yet the pressure is immense. Villeneuve also touches on Hamilton's recent years, suggesting a move to Ferrari could revitalise the British driver's career, shedding the "weight" of previous disappointments and reigniting his passion for racing. Villeneuve concluded:
“If he starts beating Lewis, his profile will go up big time. Lewis has nothing to lose. He has his seven titles and his move was a big boost to his image. There is nothing else he could have done.
“We also might go back to seeing the amazing Lewis. You could see the Lewis of the last two years has been so upset about not having won the championship. It was dragging him down. It was tiring, a weight. Sometimes you just need fresh water.”
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