Villeneuve Urges Ferrari to Prioritize Hamilton Over Leclerc in Title Push

Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari tenure is already yielding wins, and a former world champion insists the Scuderia must now back him exclusively for the 2026 title. After Hamilton's Barcelona victory and another Leclerc DNF, Jacques Villeneuve says Ferrari cannot afford divided loyalties while chasing championship leader Kimi Antonelli.

Why it matters:

Ferrari has endured nearly two decades without a drivers' crown, and the 2026 season represents a genuine chance to end that wait. With Hamilton just 41 points behind Antonelli and showing title-winning form, Villeneuve argues the team must rally behind its most experienced driver rather than split resources.

The details:

• Hamilton's Barcelona win, his first for Ferrari, capped a run of podiums and put him 40 points clear of Leclerc in the standings.
• Leclerc retired with a power-steering issue, his second consecutive DNF, effectively ending his realistic hopes of staying in the championship fight.
• On the Sky F1 podcast, Villeneuve said Ferrari "has to focus on Lewis" because he "knows how to win," and that Leclerc is too far back to justify equal treatment.
• Riccardo Patrese also backed Hamilton for an eighth title, noting Ferrari's rate of improvement has outstripped Mercedes'. He said Hamilton's resurgence is like escaping a "black tunnel" and insisted the championship remains open.

What's next:

The question of Ferrari's pecking order will intensify through the summer. If Hamilton keeps gaining on Antonelli while Leclerc continues to struggle, team orders could shift from speculation to official policy.