Villeneuve praises Lewis Hamilton’s perfect drive

The play successful Baku attracted a batch of attention, and Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were astatine the halfway of it. Ferrari ordered Leclerc to fto Hamilton spell successful the closing laps, frankincense restoring eighth spot to him. Earlier successful the race, the teams had swapped positions truthful that the Briton could effort to onslaught Lando Norris, Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson connected caller tires.

However, Hamilton did not regain his place. Although helium slowed down and moved distant from the perfect way successful the last meters, helium crossed the decorativeness enactment with a four-tenths advantage. Leclerc was visibly frustrated and said implicit the radio:

“Argh. Oh, I don’t care. It’s eighth place, so… fto him bask that 8th place. It’s anserine due to the fact that it’s not fair. But honestly, I don’t mind. Eighth oregon ninth, it was a pugnacious weekend.”

Hamilton apologized aft the race, claiming determination had been a misunderstanding. However, Jacques Villeneuve had a wholly antithetic opinion. 

"Lewis Hamilton played perfectly. He played conscionable right," said the 1997 Canadian champion.

"Ferrari asked Leclerc to fto Lewis go, but it wasn't necessary. Hamilton was truthful overmuch faster connected the caller tires that helium would person passed him anyway. That's wherefore the squad bid was pointless," added Villeneuve.

He believes that Hamilton was afloat alert of the situation: 

"That's wherefore Lewis didn't adjacent privation to fto him spell again. Everything was nether control."

Ferrari's vulnerability

The full incidental shows however susceptible Ferrari is successful tactical presumption close now. While Mercedes collected important points successful Baku — George Russell finished 2nd and Kimi Antonelli 4th — the Scuderia mislaid a duel successful the mediate of the standings and slipped to 3rd spot successful the constructors' championship.

For the squad from Maranello, which astatine the opening of the play had ambitions to lucifer McLaren, the effect from Baku represents a superior blow. Instead of warring for victories, it each came down to eighth and ninth place, which champion shows however overmuch the concern has changed.

This lawsuit further highlights however costly tiny mistakes and unnecessary squad orders are successful modern F1. Hamilton, for his part, showed acquisition and composure, portion Ferrari indispensable amended justice erstwhile and however to intervene successful important moments.