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Jacques Villeneuve: 'Lewis Hamilton must be driver, not rapper for 2016 title'

The outcome of the 2016 world championship will depend in large part on whether Lewis Hamilton is sufficiently focused, claims Jacques Villeneuve.

The outcome of the 2016 world championship will depend in large part on whether Lewis Hamilton is sufficiently focused, according to Jacques Villeneuve.

The 1997 world champion thinks that this year's battle could once again be a two-horse race between Hamilton and fellow Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg.

"To understand whether [Hamilton] or Nico will be most competitive, first we will have to see if Hamilton's head is more with the rappers than on the track, as happened in the final races of last season," said Villeneuve, speaking at the launch of Italian broadcaster Sky's F1 coverage for 2016.

"We will have to see if he feels like a driver again."

Quoted by La Repubblica newspaper, Villeneuve was also critical of Fernando Alonso, arguing that the Spaniard priced himself out of the market for a more competitive seat in F1.

In moving to the struggling McLaren-Honda project, 44-year-old Villeneuve argued: "He made a risky choice, but we can hardly say 'Oh poor thing' given that he earns 30 million a year.

"Of course, few drivers would say no to that kind of money, but Alonso paid the price for his arrogance when he was angry with Ferrari.

"Although he says he made the right choice, it is impossible that he really thinks that. Vettel has already done better than him because he brought peace to Ferrari."

The new season kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix on March 20.

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