Can Ferrari win at Monza? Jacques Villeneuve delivers a provocative verdict. Jacques Villeneuve comments on Ferrari’s struggles ahead of the Italian GP.

F1 | What to expect from Ferrari at Monza? The provocation from the former driver

Former Formula 1 driver Jacques Villeneuve has shared his thoughts on Ferrari’s challenging season and offered some provocative opinions. The Scuderia is coming off a disastrous weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix but will aim to bounce back in the sixteenth round of the F1 World Championship at the Italian Grand Prix.

Last year, against the odds, Charles Leclerc managed to claim his second career victory at Monza, and this year he will be looking to repeat the feat. According to Jacques Villeneuve, however, something has changed within the Maranello team that could make it harder to achieve the same result.

The harsh verdict

Speaking on The F1 Show podcast, Jacques Villeneuve was blunt: “They are far off. The car isn’t working. Normally, the car performs reasonably well and is competitive, and then they would have an extra boost for Monza. But a small boost won’t be enough now.” Based on the current situation, the former driver believes that seeing a Ferrari triumph in Italy is far from guaranteed.

For the 1997 world champion, this ongoing struggle could weigh heavily on Charles Leclerc himself. “Charles [Leclerc] is frustrated because he’s starting to realize that he may never be a world champion,” Villeneuve explained. “It’s a tough situation for him. He’s been there a long, long time, and his star is slightly fading. Meanwhile, Lewis [Hamilton] can rely on the fact that he’s a multiple-time world champion.”

Ferrari’s current status

Despite Ferrari consistently holding second place in the Constructors’ Championship in recent races, Jacques Villeneuve warns that appearances can be deceiving: “As you say, they might finish second in the Constructors’ standings, but in reality, they are the fourth strongest team. They are simply fortunate that in Red Bull only one driver scores consistently and the same with Mercedes. We keep attacking Red Bull’s second driver but protect Mercedes’ second driver. If you look at lap times, pace, and points, it’s exactly the same situation.”