Wary of too much optimism: 'Verstappen is far from there'

Jacques Villeneuve sees Max Verstappen making an important impact in the battle for the world title, but in his column for Formula1.co.uk. the Canadian also states that the reigning world champion has a long way to go.

Verstappen was supreme at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The circuit, named after the father of Jacques, fits exactly with the driving style of the Dutchman. Nobody could match him when the track was wet and Carlos Sainz did not really threaten Verstappen in the final stage of the Grand Prix.

Verstappen has the luck of the champion

Although Verstappen is now 46 points ahead of Sergio Perez and 49 ahead of Charles Leclerc, Villeneuve is guarding against too much optimism. ''The lead is big now, but Verstappen is far from there.'' The world champion points to the thirteen races still to be run and Perez's retirement. The tide can also just turn again.

Yet the 1997 world champion also sees that Verstappen is in a form that not many drivers will beat him at. ''We know he never weakens, he doesn't succumb to pressure.'' According to Villeneuve, Verstappen has the luck of the champion, as Lewis Hamilton has so often had.