When will 'troubled' Hamilton wake up, asks Villeneuve?

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Looking on from his always controversial vantage point, Jacques Villeneuve believes Lewis Hamilton and the entire Mercedes team are in crisis this season.

Three races into the 2018 season, the German squad has yet to win, a deficit it has never encountered since Formula 1 introduced its hybrid era in 2014.

Talking head Villeneuve casts a negative outlook on Mercedes and Hamilton's prospects.

"Hamilton is in crisis and is losing points for the championship," the 1997 world champion told Sky Italia.

"But I think all of Mercedes is in crisis. Now they must bet on Bottas, who is not a championship driver.

"After the impressive qualifying in Melbourne, Lewis is no longer able to drive the car. It's very troubling."

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The Canadian believes the disappointing start to the season does not bode well for a driver who typically struggles when things aren't going his way.

"We saw last year that when he's in crisis he loses a lot, falls behind in the races and falls asleep, is not aggressive. We'll have to see when and if he wakes up," he added.

Villeneuve also urged Red Bull to pull out all the stops and promptly re-sign last Sunday's race winner, Daniel Ricciardo, for 2019.

"Red Bull without Ricciardo would not be a force, but with Ricciardo it is dangerous," he said.

"He's fighting for the world championship as Ferrari was two years ago, with everything needing to be fine with him and bad for the others."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.