Jacques Villeneuve delivers scathing verdict on Lewis Hamilton: “Not getting what they signed”

Villeneuve questions Hamilton–Ferrari “chemistry” and argues “they’re not getting what they signed”

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Photo by: Erik Junius

1997 Formula 1 champion Jacques Villeneuve has delivered a scathing verdict on Lewis Hamilton’s season so far with Ferrari. Claiming that both Hamilton and the team have failed to deliver what was expected, he adds that there is a worryingly small amount of chemistry within the team.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 ahead of the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix, the now-pundit didn’t mince his words when discussing the partnership between the seven-time champion and the storied constructor.

“They’re not getting what they signed,” Villeneuve said bluntly. “So there will be some frustration in there from both camps – from the team, from Lewis – because he’s not getting the car he was wanting. He doesn’t feel the team is behind him. The team doesn’t feel Lewis is with them.”

It has been a disappointing 14 races for the former Mercedes driver. With expectations at an all-time high after his exit from the Brackley outfit was confirmed, the partnership has failed to yield the results his fans were expecting.

He currently sits sixth in the drivers’ standings with 109 points, 42 points behind team-mate Charles Leclerc, who sits in fifth. The results tell an equally sobering story, with the Monegasque leading Hamilton in qualifying by 10-4 and race results by 11-2.

“It’s not gelling, and you can hear it when he’s communicating with the engineer on race day. There’s no chemistry – none at all,” he continued. “It’s as if they’re on a different planet and they don’t even communicate with each other, but the same is true with Leclerc and his engineer.

“There’s something really odd happening in the team that is not progressing in the right direction, and when you hear Lewis’s interviews, he doesn’t seem excited.

“He doesn’t seem to believe what he says. It’s as if he doesn’t want to go to work. It’s really, really strange.

“Now, 2026 is coming, he knows that will be a new season, this year is done. He’s focusing on 2026, but for that you need to make sure that it will be your car, it will be your team.”

Hamilton’s frustrations came to a point during the Hungarian Grand Prix after he qualified 12th behind Leclerc’s pole position result. Calling himself “useless”, he suggested Ferrari “probably need to change driver”.

A reset is coming in 2026.

“But if there’s no chemistry, what’s the point?” Villeneuve asked. “The chemistry happens – even in a tough season. That’s when you really build it. It’s when the going is tough; when things are easy, you don’t need to build chemistry – it’s easy.”