Villeneuve praises Hamilton after Mercedes contract extension: 'Like Alonso'

It may have taken a while but Lewis Hamilton has nevertheless extended his contract with Mercedes ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The Briton signed a deal for the next two seasons in Formula 1. Jacques Villeneuve reacts to the contract extension and sees special strength in Hamilton.

"He is still younger than Alonso!", Villeneuve told PlanetF1. "Lewis is not showing his age, it’s like Alonso, it’s all down to how hungry someone is. And how one is willing to still push the envelope, the limit, and how much he’s enjoying the dream he had as a little kid, which was to be a race car driver," the 52-year-old Canadian continued.

Can Hamilton still become F1 world champion?

Villeneuve does not think the Stevenage-based Englishman's contract extension is unnecessary in view of his potential eighth world championship. "

“Why would it be futile?” he said. “Mercedes were so far ahead, and no one else gave up. It’s possible that Red Bull arrives at a point where they can’t evolve the car because they hit a wall in the development and Mercedes finds something," concluded the 1997 world champion.

Toto Wolff was also very appreciative of Hamilton's contract extension and also George Russell, as he called the two drivers the best driver pair on the Formula 1 grid.