Villeneuve: Ferrari 'Destroyed' Their Own Race in China

Jacques Villeneuve has criticized Ferrari's intra-team battle in Shanghai, arguing that Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc's fierce duel cost the team a shot at challenging Mercedes for the race win. The 1997 World Champion believes the pair's aggressive racing destroyed their tyres and allowed the Mercedes drivers to escape, turning a potential podium lockout into a distant third and fourth place finish.

Why it matters:

Ferrari entered the Chinese Grand Prix weekend with strong pace, capitalizing on superior race starts to leap ahead of the Mercedes cars at the beginning. However, their inability to manage the internal competition for position may have cost them crucial points in both championships. With Mercedes now establishing a clear lead, Ferrari's failure to maximize a strong performance highlights a recurring strategic challenge for the Scuderia.

The details:

• After brilliant launches, Hamilton and Leclerc ran second and third behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli's leading Mercedes in the early stages.
• Instead of working together to pressure the leader, the Ferrari drivers immediately began an intense battle for P2, swapping positions multiple times.
• Villeneuve pointed out that this duel caused significant tyre wear and, crucially, allowed Antonelli to build a five-second gap in just two laps.
• George Russell, in the other Mercedes, was also able to pass both Ferraris during the chaos, securing a 1-2 finish for the Brackley team.
• Team Principal Fred Vasseur defended the decision to let his drivers race, stating it builds team morale and emulation, but acknowledged the risk of looking "completely stupid" if it backfired.

What's next:

The incident puts Ferrari's team management philosophy under the microscope. While Vasseur values the competitive spirit, the result in Shanghai shows a tangible cost. As the team trails Mercedes by 31 points in the Constructors' standings, finding the balance between internal competition and collective strategy will be critical. If Ferrari can harness their clear car performance without self-inflicted wounds, Villeneuve believes they could become a genuine worry for Mercedes in the coming races.