Hamilton will have to ‘be aggressive’ to reclaim the F1 world title

Villeneuve won his championship for Williams in 1997 after a controversial final at Jerez where Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher clashed with him as they battled for the title.

Speaking at Daytona, where he is testing ahead of a planned NASCAR Cup Series comeback next month, Villeneuve said the controversial end of the 2021 F1 season in Abu Dhabi is “good for the sport” as it provides narrative for Hamilton’s return and his return to avenge his defeat.

“It’s good for the sport anyway because Lewis has to come back now and try to win his eighth championship and be aggressive to try to win it,” said Villeneuve.

“It ended up getting a lot of ink in the newspapers.

“It was a bit controversial, but it always is when it comes down to the last race.”

After his shock defeat in Abu Dhabi, which cost him a record-breaking eighth championship title, Hamilton has remained silent on social media, prompting suggestions he may be leaving F1.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has said he would “very much hope Lewis will keep racing” while admitting his star driver is “disillusioned at the moment”.

Asked if he thinks Hamilton will return in 2022, Villeneuve replied: “Well, who knows?

Jacques Villeneuve, Williams FW19

Photo by: Sutton Images

“Nobody expects [Nico] Rosberg didn’t want to come back and suddenly he woke up one morning telling everyone that in a way he wasn’t passionate about racing. That doesn’t seem to be the case with Lewis, but who knows?

“It’s really difficult to know what’s going on in people’s heads when the season is very long, you think you know how it’s going to end and it’s not going as you expect and you feel like has taken it away from you.

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“I think the reaction is quite negative. But you just have to get going again.”

Despite the outcry that followed Abu Dhabi after the FIA’s governing body promised to look into the restart after the last race’s safety car in a detailed analysis, Villeneuve believes the right man has won the 2021 title.

“I think it depends on whether you’re a Verstappen fan or a Lewis fan when it comes to the reaction,” said Villeneuve.

“It was exciting and when you see how the whole season has gone, Max deserves this championship. He was on the ball all year round, race after race.”