Ferrari need to focus on Lewis Hamilton if they are to have a chance of winning the 2026 Formula 1 drivers’ title, according to former world champion Jacques Villeneuve.
Hamilton moved to within 41 points of Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli at the top of the standings as the seven-time world champion capped a strong run of form by claiming his first win for Ferrari at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
Back-to-back retirements for Hamilton’s team-mate Charles Leclerc have opened a 30-point gap between the Ferrari pair, and 1997 champion Villeneuve is adamant the Italian squad must now prioritise the Brit before Mercedes choose between either Antonelli or George Russell, who is third in the standings.
Speaking on the latest episode of Sky Sports’ The F1 Show podcast, Villeneuve said: “Lewis knows how to win, and he knows what it takes. And if he gets a sniff of it, there won’t be any quarters.
“I think that’s where he can make the difference. Mercedes right now are not in a position to be even able or allowed to choose a driver over another.
“Ferrari is because Ferrari has to focus on Lewis if they want a small chance of winning, so the decision is easy to make because Leclerc is quite far back [in the championship].”
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Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton claimed his first win in red at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix
‘Leclerc not prepared for Hamilton turnaround’
Hamilton endured a hugely challenging first campaign with Ferrari after joining from Mercedes as he struggled to match Leclerc for much of 2025.
However, a change to his engineering team and further alterations implemented by team boss Fred Vasseur – along with a major change in car regulations – have enabled the 41-year-old to rediscover a rich vein of form.
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Speaking on the F1 Show podcast, Jacques Villeneuve believes Mercedes team-mates Kimi Antonelli and George Russell will be put under pressure by the return to form of Lewis Hamilton
Villeneuve believes Hamilton’s turnaround has taken Leclerc by surprise and that he is “not prepared” to respond.
“Leclerc had time to build the team around him and he didn’t,” Villeneuve said. “Bear in mind how he came into Ferrari was after an average season at Sauber and suddenly giving the huge mega contract, like a world champion contract. Maybe too much too soon?
“He’s never really had to build anything around him. It was given, it was there. He was quick and that was plenty because the perception was, that’s a car that cannot win a championship anyway. You win a few races, you beat your team-mate, which was (Sebastian) Vettel. Everybody was happy.
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Charles Leclerc crashed again for the second time in seven days as he found the wall at Turn Four during qualifying at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix
“Suddenly in comes Lewis last year, who’s not having a great season. He’s really having a hard time with the car, the team, it takes time to build this around yourself, so Leclerc is quite happy. He’s looking good next to Lewis.
“But the minute Lewis woke up, the minute Lewis made that car and that team his own and he’s going for it and doesn’t leave any quarter, Leclerc is not prepared for that.”
Formula 1’s European season continues with the Austrian Grand Prix on June 26-28, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
