Carlos Sainz is outperforming Ferrari’s Golden Boy Charles Leclerc. Certainly, the Spaniard has a lot to prove if he wants to get into a competitive team in 2025 and his Australian Grand Prix win was a great show. Despite Sainz being the only non-Red Bull race winner since 2023, he was chosen by Ferrari to be replaced over Leclerc.

This decision is something that many fans are now second-guessing and to add to the fire, former F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve stepped forward to talk about this. According to the 1997 world champion, Charles Leclerc is a talented driver, but while that is the case, he spoke of how talent alone is “not enough” to be a world champion.

Jacques Villeneuve would have kept Carlos Sainz in the team

As reported by Soymotor, while talking to Casino Online In, Villeneuve spoke about the Spaniard being replaced with Lewis Hamilton. He stated, “Carlos Sainz has responded very well after being basically kicked out of Ferrari.” Further explaining, “We see that he is not there to be Leclerc’s second. He is there to play his game and show the world what he can do. He has put himself in the showcase in a big way. He is the only one who wins races for Ferrari. His value will be has risen a lot in the last three years.”

Over the last 3 years, Carlos Sainz has proved himself to be a driver worthy of a Ferrari seat. It was due to his performance in 2022 when he won the British Grand Prix, that the world started to acknowledge his strength as a Ferrari driver. The former World Champion explained, “Every time he has taken a step, people have said that the team that signed him is taking a risk. Each time he performs better than expected.”

Speaking the harsh truth Villeneuve said, “He is undoubtedly surpassing Leclerc. People are beginning to realize that he is a serious contender. He is very mature and dedicated, intelligent and works hard, which is making a difference. Talent alone is not enough.“ He then delved into what the team must be thinking, “There are two sides at Ferrari. One wanted Hamilton and the other wanted to keep Leclerc. So Sainz was the sacrificial lamb.”

Jacques Villeneuve’s takeaway for Ferrari

In the interview, Jacques Villeneuve made it clear that he thinks that Carlos Sainz is the better driver. The stats so far have proved the same with Sainz leading the Ferraris in every race except the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and the Chinese Grand Prix.

Concluding his take on the Sainz-Ferrari situation, he stated, “Ironically, Sainz will probably come out with a better situation. You have to wonder if they think: ‘What have we done?’, has tried to explain the situation that he believes exists in the Scuderia to close.” 

That being said, do you think that Ferrari made a mistake by firing the wrong driver for Lewis Hamilton? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.