Lewis Hamilton ‘destroyed’ Ferrari’s race, says Villeneuve after Chinese GP clash
Lewis Hamilton secured his first Formula 1 podium finish for Ferrari at the Chinese Grand Prix, but the result has sparked debate over the team’s race management after a tense fight with Charles Leclerc.
Former world champion Jacques Villeneuve questioned whether Ferrari allowed the battle to cost them a stronger overall result, despite Hamilton finishing third.
Villeneuve questions Ferrari approach
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Villeneuve argued that Ferrari lost valuable time by letting its drivers race each other too aggressively while running near the front.
“Well, it was fair because he finished third, and he managed to beat his teammate,” Villeneuve said.
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“So, yes, it turned out okay, but it was a little bit extreme, and it destroyed Ferrari’s race. They were running second and third. Then they were fighting so hard, destroying their tyres. And in those two laps, they lost five seconds to Antonelli.”
He warned that similar situations could hurt Ferrari over a full season.
“At some point, if they keep taking lap time away from each other like this, it will allow Mercedes to get away,” he added. “So, Mercedes should worry a little bit about Ferrari coming back, because they’re not that far behind them in points.”
Hamilton sees positives despite gap
Hamilton, however, took a more optimistic view after claiming his first podium in Ferrari colors following a challenging start with the team.
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Race reports noted that his switch from Mercedes widely described as a long-held ambition initially proved difficult, but recent performances suggest progress under the current regulations.
In Shanghai, Hamilton carried strong pace from the Sprint into the main race and held off Leclerc in a close, wheel-to-wheel contest he described as fair.
“Of course, these guys [Mercedes] are pulling past us at crazy speeds, but to be able to all be so close,” Hamilton said. “Hopefully it was an exciting race to watch for you guys because it was awesome in the car.”
Mercedes still setting the pace
Despite Ferrari’s improvement, Mercedes remain the benchmark early in the season. Andrea Kimi Antonelli took victory in China, finishing more than 30 seconds clear, underlining the current performance gap.
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While Ferrari appears closer to consistent competitiveness, the race highlighted both its progress and the fine margins that could shape the championship battle.
Sources: Sky Sports F1, Formula 1 race reports
