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Villeneuve delivers verdict on Hamilton's 'first few months' with Ferrari

14:42, 06 Aug

Updated: 15:22, 06 Aug

byTobia Elia

Jacques Villeneuve has shared his thoughts on Lewis Hamilton’s difficult first half of the season with Ferrari, admitting he was surprised to see him so demoralized.

The first part of Lewis Hamilton’s new adventure with Ferrari hasn’t gone the way either he or the Maranello team had hoped.

After 14 Grands Prix, the seven-time world champion is still without a podium or a win, with a fourth place at his home race in Silverstone standing as his best result so far, even tough he managed to win the Scuderia's first ever Sprint in China.

The battle with Charles Leclerc has also been tough, with the Monegasque securing five podiums so far, along with a surprise pole position in Hungary just last weekend. Hamilton, on the other hand, was knocked out in Q2 and failed to even break into the top 10 during the race.

Lewis Hamilton in Hungary

Villeneuve casts verdict on Hamilton's season

According to Jacques Villeneuve, Hamilton is only now starting to realize just how different things are at Ferrari compared to an environment like Mercedes.

“Lewis comes from completely different experiences in Formula 1 and has always worked with the English and German approach in the past,'' he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

''Now, he's starting to realize just how different everything is at Ferrari. It’s definitely surprising to see him so demoralized.''

''There always seems to be a bit of confusion at Ferrari when it comes to decision-making and communication — even over the radio — and that certainly doesn’t help him adapt.”

However, the 1997 world champion believes that 2026 will be the real year of judgment for Hamilton — the moment when true conclusions can be drawn: “Next year will be the real head-to-head with Leclerc. This car wasn’t designed for Hamilton, while the new regulations in 2026 will reset everything.''

''Still, the attention and expectations surrounding his arrival were huge, and there’s no denying that his first few months have been disappointing.”

With zero points scored in Hungary, Hamilton now finds himself 42 points behind his teammate, sitting at 110 points — one less than at the same stage last season.