1997 World champion Jacques Villeneuve believes promoting Ferrari academy driver Charles Leclerc could lead to Sebastian Vettel 'eating him alive' should he replace Kimi Raikkonen in 2019.
Speaking on the F1 podcast, Villeneuve feels Raikkonen deserves another extension on his Ferrari contract after how well he has driven this season, the Finn currently sits third in the Drivers' Championship, 43 points behind team-mate Vettel, despite no victories.
Speculation has surrounded the future of the 2007 world champion for many seasons, this has now come to a pinch point due to the pressure of Leclerc's performances in his rookie season in a Sauber.
When asked by host Tom Clarkson if Raikkonen should stay, Villeneuve said: "Of course, look at the work he has been doing.
"He's third in the championship, he's often quicker than Vettel, when he's not he's what, a tenth behind? He's paramount in the development of the car.
"The whole team works fantastically well now, put a young cub next to Vettel; What will Vettel do? He'll try to eat him alive.
"And either he will destroy the young cub, or it'll end in tears and the whole team will end up going slower within two years, so that's not constructive."
When asked by Clarkson whether Villeneuve would promote Leclerc, he further elaborated on why he wouldn't do it, citing teams like Ferrari and Mercedes being top teams that don't develop drivers, which should be the job of junior teams.
"Not for one more year, no," added the Canadian. "Charles is still making a few mistakes, it would be great for Leclerc. It would be amazing for him, but it would be two years of Ferrari preparing him.
"Ferrari is like Mercedes, it's not a team to prepare drivers. It's a top team. Top teams, they buy and they pay the drivers as when they're at their best and when they want them.
"That's why you have junior teams to prepare them."
