Former Formula 1 driver Jacques Villeneuve defends Ferrari’s decision to sign Lewis Hamilton. The Scuderia has faced criticism more than once for replacing Carlos Sainz with the seven-time world champion, but according to Villeneuve, signing Hamilton is ‘fantastic’. The former champion even dares to make an unfavorable comparison with four-time world champion Max Verstappen.
Lewis Hamilton has now started his new job as a Ferrari driver. The decision of the Italian racing team to sign the seven-time world champion has already faced criticism several times. For instance, Alpine advisor Flavio Briatore said he would never have signed the Brit if he were working at Ferrari. Former driver Jacques Villeneuve doesn’t understand Briatore’s comment at all.
“It’s very shortsighted of Briatore to suggest that he doesn’t see the logic in signing Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari. You just have to look at the value of Ferrari at the time they signed him,” Villeneuve explains to The Action Network. “Signing Lewis was worth millions and millions, so it was the best move they’ve ever made.”
Villeneuve even dares to compare Hamilton’s arrival at Scuderia with Michael Schumacher’s decision to swap Benetton for Ferrari. “Regardless of race results, Lewis Hamilton is the greatest driver of all time because of all the followers he has,” says Villeneuve. “He is unique. He has broken the mold. He has the biggest image. His image extends beyond Formula 1. And there are not many drivers like that.”
Comparison with Verstappen
It is at this point that the 1997 world champion makes an unfavorable comparison with Max Verstappen. “Remove Verstappen from Formula 1, and nobody cares. Remove Hamilton from Formula 1, and people care. So yes, it’s the biggest signing. And Ferrari is also one of the biggest brands in the world, if not the biggest. When you combine the two, it’s naturally amazing,” he concludes.
