Ferrari’s aggressive approach in Spain earns praise from Jacques Villeneuve. Jacques Villeneuve praised Ferrari’s aggressive race strategy in Barcelona.

The 1997 Formula 1 World Champion was particularly impressed by Ferrari’s strategy, which ultimately helped secure Lewis Hamilton’s first victory with the Scuderia.

Villeneuve: from Schumacher to Hamilton in Spain

Just as it happened thirty years ago when Michael Schumacher claimed his first Ferrari victory at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain once again provided an emotional milestone for the Scuderia. This time, it was Lewis Hamilton who stood on the top step of the podium for the first time as a Ferrari driver, delivering a result that many fans had been eagerly waiting to see.

Back in 1996, one of the drivers unable to prevent Michael Schumacher’s dominant performance was Jacques Villeneuve. Today, the Canadian combines his role as a television pundit with his commitments in the Porsche Supercup, and he followed Lewis Hamilton’s breakthrough Ferrari win with great interest.

A decisive and aggressive strategy

Having finished third in that famous 1996 Spanish Grand Prix, Jacques Villeneuve focused not only on Lewis Hamilton’s performance in Barcelona but also on Ferrari’s strategic approach. The Canadian admitted he was particularly impressed by the team’s willingness to take risks in pursuit of victory rather than settling for a safe podium finish behind the race leader.

“It was not something you could take for granted,” Villeneuve explained to Sky F1. “Yes, there was a Virtual Safety Car, but Lewis had a pace that he managed to maintain surprisingly well from the very beginning of the race.

“Then Ferrari did something they do not usually do. They were not satisfied with second place; they became aggressive. They took a significant risk and it looked as though they were willing to put everything on the line. Their mentality seemed to be: ‘Second place? We are not interested. We want to try to win.’ That decision worked in their favor. Just look at the gap Lewis Hamilton was able to build by the end of the race. It was impressive, incredible.”

The comments underline what many observers viewed as a notable shift in Ferrari’s mindset. Rather than prioritizing a conservative points haul, the team appeared determined to maximize every opportunity available, a strategy that ultimately delivered a memorable victory and strengthened confidence within Maranello.

Lewis Hamilton’s experience proving valuable

Jacques Villeneuve also reflected on Lewis Hamilton’s resurgence, suggesting that the seven-time world champion has benefited from the difficult periods he has experienced throughout his Formula 1 career, including the challenging 2025 season that marked his first year with Ferrari.

According to Villeneuve, Lewis Hamilton has already demonstrated his ability to overcome adversity and silence doubters. The Canadian pointed to the British driver’s decision to leave McLaren for Mercedes many years ago, a move that was initially questioned by many within the paddock before eventually proving to be one of the most successful career decisions in Formula 1 history. He has been through this kind of situation before,” Villeneuve added. “When he left McLaren for Mercedes, everyone was asking why he had made that decision. Then he helped build the team, and everything developed from there. When you come from an era in which you had to be tough and fight your way through difficult situations, you understand how these stories usually end.”

With Ferrari’s recent upgrades delivering strong results and Lewis Hamilton finally securing his first victory in red, there is a growing sense that both driver and team may have turned a corner. If Barcelona was indeed the beginning of a new chapter, Ferrari’s rivals will be paying very close attention over the coming races.