1997 F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve believes it’s “tremendous necessary” Lewis Hamilton ends his time at Mercedes strongly forward of his swap to Ferrari subsequent 12 months.
Hamilton will finish his 12-year stint at Mercedes on the finish of this 12 months earlier than making a shock transfer to Ferrari.
Earlier than the British Grand Prix, Hamilton was on a protracted win drought that almost stretched to 1000 days.
General, whereas Hamilton has taken two wins for Mercedes, teammate George Russell has usually been extra spectacular, notably in qualifying.
Talking on Sky Sports activities’ F1 Present in Azerbaijan, Villeneuve defined why it’s vital for Hamilton to finish the season nicely.
“It’s tremendous necessary,” he stated. “It’s been so lengthy. He’s been seen as profitable when the automotive was simply profitable and when it grew to become arduous, Russell was a little bit bit forward.
“That’s not the luggage he desires to carry to Ferrari. It’s a chaotic group – not a straightforward group to work in. You wish to arrive as a winner.”
A “actually good day” for Hamilton
Hamilton loved a robust day on Friday in Azerbaijan.
The 39-year-old was third-fastest in FP2, only a tenth off Charles Leclerc.
“It was a extremely good day,” Hamilton defined. “I loved immediately. I hit the bottom operating from the get go. I made incremental steps with the setup.
“For as soon as, I felt like we didn’t have any steps that we needed to come again on. It was constantly constructing. I don’t know the way my future is in comparison with others however we didn’t get an enormous quantity of laps.
“Purple Bull appear fairly fast as does Ferrari. We’re there or thereabouts.”
Whereas Hamilton was happy with Mercedes’ tempo, he’s remaining “cautious” about their possibilities of success.
“I actually don’t know,” he concluded. “On at the present time you don’t know what gasoline hundreds everyone seems to be on. Usually after we get to P3 or qualifying everybody takes a step and we haven’t all the time. We’ll keep cautious and attempt to do the very best we will with what now we have. I hope we’re as near the entrance because it appears. We’ll discover out tomorrow.”
