Leclerc being afforded more patience than Vettel - Villeneuve

Jacques Villeneuve believes Sebastian Vettel would’ve been hounded by the media had he made the mistakes Charles Leclerc made in Baku, insisting their battle for the number one spot is damaging the team.

Both Ferrari drivers have made mistakes this season, with Vettel spinning during his battle with Lewis Hamilton in Bahrain and Leclerc crashing during Q2 at the recent Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which ultimately cost the Monegasque any hope of winning. Ferrari are now 74 points behind the dominant Mercedes team despite only being four races into the season.

The 1997 World Champion, Villeneuve believes Leclerc is being afforded more patience than Vettel would if he was in that situation.

In an interview with Motorsport Network the Canadian said: “If you listen to any fan or go on the forums, even the qualifying accident [in Baku], Leclerc doesn’t get criticised.

“If it had been Vettel, he would have been destroyed by the media and everyone, for the same mistake.

“Ultimately I think that’s having a negative effect for the team.

“Seb’s spin in Bahrain came because of that, then the team orders in China, it all comes from there.

“And Leclerc’s accident in qualifying also, wanting to prove that he’s the number one of the team. Ultimately that’s damaging the whole team.”