Aldo Costa. Along with Adrian Newey they are the best designers in F1 modern history

Villeneuve: Schumacher and Hamilton only as good as their great cars

Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton are made-men - made great by this man - Aldo Costa - who designed their cars
Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton are made-men – made great by this man – Aldo Costa – who designed their cars

Former Formula 1 driver Jacques Villeneuve has taken fire at Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher, claiming their success in the sport is mainly down to the cars they were driving designed by Aldo Costa.

With 12 World Championships shared between them, Hamilton and Schumacher are two of the most successful F1 drivers ever

Both household names, Schumacher is known for his time at Ferrari, where he spent a decade of his career, and spent the majority of it dominating his peers on the race track.

Hamilton, who currently drives for Mercedes, clinched his fifth world title last season and now leads the 2019 standings by 73 points.

Yet, according to Villeneuve, the pair only have their cars to thank for their success.

“These two drivers only won when they had the best car," the Canadian told Motorsport-Total.com, as per PlanetF1.

“They’ve always had the best car in their entire career and, if you put Lewis in a Williams, you do not win.

“There [at Mercedes] he builds a team around him, that’s all, he might not have won in a Ferrari."

Aldo Costa World Championships

No. Seasons Constructors' Champion Drivers' Champion Cars
1 1999 FIA Formula One Season Ferrari N/A F399
2 2000 FIA Formula One Season Ferrari Michael Schumacher F1-2000
3 2001 FIA Formula One Season Ferrari Michael Schumacher F2001
4 2002 FIA Formula One Season Ferrari Michael Schumacher F2002
5 2003 FIA Formula One Season Ferrari Michael Schumacher F2003-GA
6 2004 FIA Formula One Season Ferrari Michael Schumacher F2004
7 2007 FIA Formula One Season Ferrari Kimi Raikkonen F2007
8 2008 FIA Formula One Season Ferrari N/A F2008
9 2014 FIA Formula One Season Mercedes Lewis Hamilton F1 W05 Hybrid
10 2015 FIA Formula One Season Mercedes Lewis Hamilton F1 W06 Hybrid
11 2016 FIA Formula One Season Mercedes Nico Rosberg F1 W07 Hybrid
12 2017 FIA Formula One Season Mercedes Lewis Hamilton F1 W08 EQ Power+
13 2018 FIA Formula One Season Mercedes Lewis Hamilton F1 W09 EQ Power+
14 2019 FIA Formula One Season Mercedes Lewis Hamilton F1 W10 EQ Power+