Jacques Villeneuve pours cold water on Ferrari’s Monza hopes: “Won’t cut it”

As Ferrari readies itself for its most important race of the year, 1997 Formula 1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has poured cold water on its Italian Grand Prix hopes as it longs to perform in front of the Tifosi. With a damning assessment of its performance ahead of Monza, the former driver believes its usual home advantage won't be enough this weekend.

Speaking on The F1 Show podcast by Sky Sports F1, Villeneuve discussed the Scuderia's chances. 

"Normally they have a special engine, special car, but I don't expect that this year. They are way off. The car is not working."

This comes after Ferrari endured a disastrous Dutch Grand Prix, which began with Lewis Hamilton crashing out of the race after qualifying within a tenth of his team-mate Charles Leclerc. His car lost traction on the wet paint of Zandvoort's famously banked Turn 3, and while he managed the resulting slide, there was nothing he could do to avoid the barriers on the corner exit. 

If that wasn't enough, Leclerc was later hit by Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli as he lunged for an overtake on Hugenholtz, ending his race prematurely on lap 40. 

Ferrari SF-25 Italian GP livery

Photo by: Ferrari

This has simply continued a challenging season for the Italian outfit. While Ferrari sits second in the constructors' standings behind the dominant McLaren, the team's performance has been visibly laboured, leading Villeneuve to further criticise the squad.

"Normally the car is kind of working. It's in the battle and then they get a little extra for Monza. A little extra won't cut it right now."

But it's Leclerc who received the majority of the now-pundit's focus.

"Charles is frustrated because he's probably starting to understand that he will never be world champion. It's gone bad, it's gotten worse. Next year is a whole new set of regulations and normally that's not when Ferrari is at its best, so it's a difficult situation for him.

"He's been there for a long time and his star has fallen a little bit. At least Lewis can rely on the fact that he's a multiple world champion so it doesn't matter if the star falls a little bit. He will always be that big global star anyway, that goes beyond F1.

"They might finish second in the constructors' championship, but they actually are the fourth horse. They are simply lucky that in Red Bull, there's only one driver scoring points and the same thing with Mercedes."

Few races matter to Ferrari as much as Monza. At its home race in front of a passionate Italian fanbase, the team must perform. While its Niki Lauda livery is a beautiful tribute to the Scuderia's heritage, it won't be enough by itself.