Jacques Villeneuve Delivers a Grim Verdict on Sebastian Vettel for 2020

Ferrari’s new recruit, Charles Leclerc is steadily upsetting the applecart to work in his favour. However, that means that poor old Sebastian Vettel will no longer enjoy the top dog status.

In fact, many view the Monegasque driver as the one who will lead Ferrari to championship glory. At the same time, they also feel that Sebastian Vettel’s time is up and he should retire. Meanwhile, Leclerc was making waves with wins at Spa and Monza, heralding Ferrari’s resurgence. The cherry on top was defeating Vettel in every qualifying session since Canada.

In light of Leclerc’s hegemony over Sebastian Vettel, former World Champion Jacques Villeneuve gave a fairly grim verdict on Vettel. According to the Canadian, the 2020 team battle will be terribly one-sided, and pointing in Leclerc’s favour.

Speaking to Motorsport-Total, Villeneuve said, “The energy isn’t right. Everyone wants Leclerc, Leclerc, Leclerc. The media, the fans … And there’s nothing you can do about it. It doesn’t matter how well you drive. You’re on the wrong side of energy. And if that’s the case then you suffer for a while. That’s a law in this sport.”

Owing to the two races after the summer break, Charles Leclerc has become the new darling of the tifosi. It all started when Leclerc bagged a Belgian GP win, their first since Kimi Raikkonen in USA 2018. He followed it up with another win, this time at Ferrari’s own turf in Monza a week later.

Vettel’s struggles began ever since the 2018 German Grand Prix when he crashed out of the lead. For more than a year after the 2018 Belgian Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel had to wait for a victory, until Singapore 2019. However it was worth noting that he won, courtesy a ‘controversial’ undercut against Leclerc.

Villeneuve spoke about the error that Sebastian Vettel made in Hockenheim. He said, “Of course, because you’re making a mistake and you know you’re to blame. That probably changed the whole championship – psychologically too.”

“All the media and fans are talking about it, so you feel the pressure. Of course it has an impact.”

“It has nothing to do with the concept of the car. The car was designed together with the feedback of the drivers who drove before”. And these were Vettel and Räikkönen – not Leclerc. “So he has his share in the design of this car.”