Ex-F1 champion claims Lewis Hamilton ‘not in a good place’ ahead of Ferrari switch

Jacques Villeneuve believes Lewis Hamilton’s mindset struggles must improve before his move to Scuderia Ferrari.

Ex-F1 champion claims Lewis Hamilton ‘not in a good place’ ahead of Ferrari switch

Lewis Hamilton (via Formula 1)

Lewis Hamilton faced significant challenges during the US GP, leading to a disappointing early exit from the race. After a surprising elimination in Q1 during qualifying, he started the race from 17th on the grid.

Hamilton made a strong start, climbing to 12th by the end of the first lap of the race. However, his progress halted abruptly on lap three when he spun off the track at Turn 19 and ended his race prematurely, adding to the frustration of an already difficult weekend.

Lewis Hamilton attributed the spin to issues with the car’s balance and handling during the race. These struggles reflect ongoing challenges for him in the 2024 season, as Mercedes faces performance inconsistencies.

Former 1997 Champion Jacques Villeneuve asserts that Hamilton’s recent struggles are rooted in his mindset. This mindset needs to be addressed before his move to Ferrari or he’ll continue to struggle there too.

I don’t think Lewis is thinking about Ferrari. He is thinking about himself and how awful it is going for him. That was the first time he has actually gone off in a race. He really is not in a good place. That is not helping his driving. He needs to get out of that mindset before he goes to Ferrari.

Jacques Villeneuve said (via CanadaCasino.ca)

Hamilton’s struggles began well before COTA, finishing sixth in Singapore, over 80 seconds behind race winner Lando Norris. The week before in Azerbaijan, he finished ninth, battling with rookie drivers from Williams and Haas throughout the race.

Villeneuve noted that while back-to-back races are challenging, the Briton had three weeks off without improving his performance. Despite his struggles this season, Hamilton still won two races at Silverstone and Spa.

It is tough when you have so many races back to back. You don’t really have time to change, but he’s just had three weeks off, and he didn’t come back any better.

Jacques Villeneuve added

Jacques Villeneuve believes Lewis Hamilton lacks ‘demeanor’ of a winner

Jacques Villeneuve addressing Lewis Hamilton’s performance noticed that he doesn’t have his past demeanor of a winner. This may be because of the performance pressure, mental fatigue, and high expectations, which diminish his confidence and attitude.

Jacques Villeneuve [L] Lewis Hamilton [R]
Jacques Villeneuve [L] Lewis Hamilton [R] (images via IMAGO)

At nearly 40, the pressures of racing weigh heavily on him, making it harder to maintain focus and motivation. Villeneuve believes he must regain his old form and attitude before considering a move to Ferrari, a team that demands excellence.

But generally, his demeanour indicates he doesn’t have the body language of a race winner. He is not the killer winner we have seen in the past. He needs to get back to his old form and attitude before he moves because Ferrari is not an easy team to be in.

Jacques Villeneuve expressed

Hamilton’s failure to perform at Ferrari could raise doubts about his abilities and hurt his achievements. Struggles with the team might make people question his legacy as a seven-time champion, overshadowing his past successes and competitive spirit.