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Charles Leclerc F1 title credentials questioned by former champion

Former world champ pulls no punches in rating the Monegasque

Graham Shaw Consultant Editor

Digital sports specialist running global brands for 30 years

Thursday 23 June 2022 10:30 Updated: 10:47

Jacques Villeneuve believes Charles Leclerc still has much to prove if he is to become a future F1 champion.

Ferrari driver Leclerc recovered from 19th on the grid for Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix to finish fifth.

But when asked if he was impressed by that, former world champion Villeneuve told the F1 Nation podcast: "Yes and no. When you're in a Ferrari, you should only have a Red Bull in front of you.

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"Before the race, they took those penalties because it's Montreal, and in their minds, the worst they could finish was P4 having [Sergio] Perez still in the race - and they didn't.

"That also shows how good Lewis [Hamilton] was because he was actually in front of a Ferrari. There was also a safety car that allowed Charles to get close to the pack, and he finished fifth.

"So yeah it's good, it's good salvaging of points, but it's not good enough. They had a poor pit stop and got out behind four cars instead of ahead of them.

"Fighting to get those positions killed their tyres, and that's why they didn't get the Mercedes in the end."

Is Leclerc a future world champion?

So what of Leclerc's 2022 season so far? Villeneuve again pulled no punches in his assessment of the 24-year-old.

"He's super-quick, but right now he still makes a few little mistakes that he shouldn't," assessed the 1997 champion.

"Imola, for example, then he's not helped by the team. That's the energy they all have together.

"Right now we know he's fast, he's aggressive, is he a world champion? Is he like Max, how is he under pressure when it's money time for the championship?

"That's what we still need to find out."