Villeneuve Makes a Grim Statement on Lewis Hamilton’s F1 Return Comparing Him With Rosberg

1997 F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve has made a grim statement about the potential retirement of Lewis Hamilton. The last lap fiasco in Abu Dhabi has brought dark clouds over the Brackley team’s future course of action. Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton lost out on his record eighth world title following a controversial finish.

Hamilton, along with team boss Toto Wolff, skipped the FIA prize-giving gala held in Paris as a sign of protest. There has been a lot of discussion about Hamilton’s future with the sport but nothing concrete has come out yet. Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone suggested that the Silver Arrows star might just bow out of his seat in F1. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff also made a statement that further bolstered these claims.

Amidst all the speculations and judgments, Villeneuve has joined this conversation with the example of Nico Rosberg.

Formula One F1 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – December 12, 2021 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton shakes hands with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner after finishing second in the race and world championship REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

Lewis Hamilton might take a tough decision as Nico did in 2016

Jacques Villeneuve is known for giving opinions upfront with no filters and a lot of fans admire him for the same. Recently, he dropped a claim surrounding the Mercedes luminary’s retirement.

“No one expected Rosberg to retire. He woke up one morning and told everyone he had no passion for racing anymore. It doesn’t look like that for Lewis, but who knows? It’s hard to know what’s going on in people’s minds,” said the Canadian.

Nico Rosberg drove for Mercedes from 2010 to 2016. Hamilton and Rosberg had a long-standing relationship from their Karting days, but it faded away with time when the two started competing for championships together. After 3 years of intense battles, Rosberg achieved his lifetime goal of an F1 championship in 2016.

In the press conference after the 2016 Abu Dhabi GP, Hamilton mentioned he was looking forward to the next championship battle alongside Nico. However, days later it came as a surprise to many, including the Mercedes team, that Rosberg decided to bow out of his seat. He announced his retirement out of nowhere and Villeneuve used this analogy while giving his opinion on Hamilton’s retirement.

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – NOVEMBER 27: Race winner Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP congratulates second place finisher and World Drivers Champion Nico Rosberg of Germany and Mercedes GP on the podium during the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on November 27, 2016 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Fans are waiting to see their favorite driver back on the grid in the F1 cockpit. How do you think this saga will play out?

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