Jacques Villeneuve doesn’t think 26-year-old has proved he can be an F1 world champion

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Becoming a Formula 1 world champion takes an incredible amount of skill, dedication and a decent slice of luck.

You have to be in the right team at the right time – just ask Fernando Alonso about that – and be able to beat your teammate in an identical car.

Speaking to GP Fans, 1997 F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve has suggested that there’s one driver on the grid who has had some very strong outings but has not yet done enough to show he can win a title one day.

There are only three world champions on the grid currently and two are nearing the end of their prestigious Formula 1 careers.

However, Aston Martin have signed up Fernando Alonso for at least another two seasons, while Lewis Hamilton joins Ferrari at the end of the year.

The other champion – Max Verstappen – is only 26 and has three titles and counting and it would be a shock if he didn’t add number four (and probably five) to his list of honours before the regulation changes in 2026.

Villeneuve has now questioned whether Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has what it takes to be a Formula 1 champion.

He’s never had the opportunity to drive the fastest car on the grid and Martin Brundle reckons he’s even quicker than Verstappen over one lap.

Unfortunately, when it comes to battling the Dutchman over a full race distance, he showed last year that his Ferrari wasn’t up to scratch.

Jacques Villeneuve questions whether Charles Leclerc will be a Formula 1 champion

It’s hard to argue that Charles Leclerc isn’t one of the most talented drivers currently on the grid.

He was Verstappen’s closest rival in 2022 for the championship, but several unforced errors derailed his title charge.

Leclerc has 23 pole positions to his name but only five race wins and the last two races not won by Max Verstappen saw ousted teammate Carlos Sainz standing on the top step of the podium.

He admitted leading up to the previous race in Japan he still doesn’t feel very confident in the car.

That was reflected in a below-par performance in qualifying, but his brilliant use of a one-stop strategy maximised his points scoring.

Jacques Villeneuve still doesn’t believe he’s seen enough from Leclerc to suggest he’s a future Formula 1 world champion.

If Ferrari build a car capable of challenging Red Bull next year, he faces an even tougher challenge up against Hamilton in the same vehicle.

Charles Leclerc still has plenty to prove in Formula 1

Speaking about next year’s Ferrari pair, Villeneuve said: “He [Lewis Hamilton] hasn’t been built. He’s actually won his championships; he’s won his races; he’s achieved it all.

“Which is very, very different than other drivers that have been put in Ferrari without championships, without wins, but where Ferrari has tried to build their image as champions.

“For example, Charles has a built image, but he has not shown it yet. That will be interesting to see the two fight it off.

“How will the one that’s achieved it all compare to the one who’s said to be a champion but he isn’t yet?”

It’s up to Leclerc to prove to Villeneuve and the rest of the paddock that he could be an F1 champion one day if he ever gets that opportunity.

Ferrari have waited more than 15 years to win a title and when they finally have a car quick enough to do so, it’s up to Hamilton and Leclerc to deal with that pressure.

Leclerc still has a long time ahead of him in F1 and could race at this level for at least another decade if not longer.

But as the likes of Valtteri Bottas and Daniel Ricciardo have shown, if you don’t reach those levels quickly, eventually you end up racing further down the grid.