Ferrari Must Prioritize Hamilton Over Leclerc for Title Shot, Says Villeneuve

Jacques Villeneuve believes Ferrari may need to designate Lewis Hamilton as its clear number-one driver to keep its 2026 championship hopes alive. While Charles Leclerc recently secured a lucrative long-term deal, Hamilton leads the internal battle by 40 points and sits second overall, forcing the Scuderia into a difficult strategic position.

Why it matters:

Ferrari has long positioned Leclerc as its franchise cornerstone, recently locking him into what Villeneuve described as a lifetime contract. Yet Hamilton is the one delivering consistent points and remaining within striking distance of championship leader Kimi Antonelli. Speaking to Sky Sports, Villeneuve warned that the team cannot afford to let pre-season hierarchy override current results, suggesting that internal friction is inevitable if Ferrari refuses to back the driver with the best shot at the title.

The details:

• After seven races, Hamilton sits second in the championship, trailing leader Kimi Antonelli by 41 points, while Leclerc languishes in fourth following back-to-back retirements in Monaco and Barcelona.
• Villeneuve argued that any team serious about winning cannot leave options unexplored when only one driver remains in genuine championship contention.
• Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff praised Hamilton's Barcelona victory and warned rivals that the seven-time champion becomes lethal once he senses an opportunity, stating that when he "smells blood, he goes."
• Wolff also emphasized that Hamilton's pursuit of an eighth world title remains very much alive, noting that the season is still young and a single retirement among the leaders could dramatically alter the standings.

What's next:

Ferrari now faces the challenge of managing two elite drivers with vastly different championship prospects. If Hamilton continues to outscore Leclerc, the pressure to divert strategic focus and resources toward the seven-time champion will only intensify. For Mercedes, the priority is eliminating reliability issues and clean race execution, as Wolff made clear that his former driver is far too dangerous to overlook in a prolonged title fight.