Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 Formula 1 World Champion, recently spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport about the difficult situation Lewis Hamilton is facing during his first season as a Ferrari driver. The Canadian reflected on the challenges Hamilton is encountering adapting to the unique working methods and culture at the Italian team.
Lewis Hamilton’s Struggles in His First Season at Ferrari
The ongoing crisis in results—and apparently confidence—of Lewis Hamilton during the first half of his debut season with Scuderia Ferrari has become one of the main talking points within the Formula 1 paddock. After all, Hamilton is the most successful driver in F1 history, and expectations for his arrival at Maranello were much higher than the harsh reality that is unfolding.
La Gazzetta dello Sport sought the opinion of a former world champion, Jacques Villeneuve, who won the title in 1997 battling Ferrari during the era of Michael Schumacher. Although Villeneuve never raced for Ferrari himself, his family name is deeply intertwined with the history of the Italian team through his father, Gilles Villeneuve, a beloved figure among Italian tifosi.
Adapting to Ferrari’s Unique Culture and Working Methods
According to Jacques Villeneuve, the former star of McLaren and Mercedes is only now beginning to understand what it truly means to be a Ferrari driver. Hamilton is having to adjust to a fundamentally different methodology and working style compared to the Anglo-Saxon teams he previously raced for.
“Lewis comes from completely different experiences in Formula 1,” Villeneuve explained in an interview with journalist Giulia Toninelli. “In the past, he always worked within English and German systems. Now he’s realizing how different everything is at Ferrari. It’s surprising to see him so demoralized. It always seems that at Ferrari there is some confusion in decision-making and communication, even over the radio, and this doesn’t help his adaptation.”
Villeneuve Looks Ahead to 2026: The Real Test for Hamilton
Despite the current difficulties, Villeneuve believes the situation is not hopeless. He views the upcoming 2026 season as the true moment when Hamilton’s performance will be fairly judged.
“The next year will be the real comparison with Charles Leclerc,” Villeneuve said. “This car was not designed for Hamilton, but with the new regulations coming in 2026, there will be a reset. However, the attention and expectations surrounding his arrival were very high, and you can’t deny that this first period has undoubtedly been disappointing.”
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