Former world champion Jacques Villeneuve believes Max Verstappen and Red Bull deserved to keep the lead after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as they made fewer mistakes this season than Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes.
Verstappen is the one to beat in a week on the way to Paul Ricard, as the seven-time world champion in Baku was unable to regain the championship lead after an atypical mistake at the restart just two laps before the end.
The Dutchman suffered a puncture that catapulted the 23-year-old into the wall five laps before the end, catapulting the lead out of the race and showing the red flag.
Hamilton had the unique opportunity to capitalize on the restart, finishing second behind Sergio Perez but blocking his front tires and ending up on the escape route at the first corner.
The mistake cost Mercedes a lot. Hamilton was in P15 and Valtteri Bottas was in P12. Perez’s win in Azerbaijan extended Red Bull’s lead to 26 points over Mercedes.
SIMPLE IN:
Lewis Hamilton: Haas’ Nikita Mazepin slams comments
“You deserve it,” Villeneuve told RaceFans, “because if you look at it, the only mistakes Max has made this year are running far in Bahrain, finishing second instead of first, and far in Portugal run and lose a point for failing [fastest lap]. That’s it.”
“If you look at Lewis: Imola, [he was] Fortunately, he shouldn’t have been on the points, he should have been behind. But he’s recovering and finishing second because there’s a red flag at the right time. But he made a big mistake.
“Then last weekend was a big mistake. Even if that and whatever, it’s a big mistake. And he wasn’t there in Monaco, he was also far behind his team-mate. “
DO NOT MISS:
Valtteri Bottas’ form could harm Lewis Hamilton in the Verstappen showdown
Lewis Hamilton: Sergio Perez warns that more is to come
Red Bull admits the F1 calendar change has lost the title
