Jacques Villeneuve lauds Lewis Hamilton for doing something at Ferrari that Michael Schumacher never did at Imola

Lewis Hamilton didn’t have the best start to his first race weekend as a Ferrari Formula 1 driver in Italy.

The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix offered Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc their first chance to impress the Tifosi on home soil in a competitive environment.

Thousands of Ferrari fans turned up to Hamilton’s first test at Fiorano, but some of the positivity that was created by that appearance has dissipated over the past few months.

Ferrari have had a tough season and look like either the weakest team at the front of the grid, or more worryingly, one of the outfits dragged into F1’s ultra-competitive midfield.

Hamilton and Leclerc’s Q2 exits, alongside hometown hero Andrea Kimi Antonelli, didn’t go down well with the fans in the crowd or either of the drivers.

Timo Glock thinks Ferrari have a serious dilemma on their hands, while BBC Sport pundit Marc Priestley identified a ‘problem’ that could impact Hamilton’s entire season.

Jacques Villeneuve has at least spotted one positive for the seven-time world champion since his arrival at Maranello, and things got even better for Hamilton once the race started.

It may earn him another level of respect compared to Ferrari’s most legendary driver Michael Schumacher.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family

Jacques Villeneuve compares Lewis Hamilton to Michael Schumacher at Ferrari

Hamilton addressed the crowd in his pre-race interview at Imola and while speaking about the race, he sprinkled in a few Italian phrases, including thanking the fans for their support.

Villeneuve was asked on Sky Sports F1 (18/5 1:01 pm) about Hamilton learning Italian and joked, “Well, mostly for an English-speaking person because you guys never learn foreign languages!

“It’s tough, everyone speaking English!

“But seriously, I don’t remember Schumacher doing that, making that effort, going out there.

“Seb [Vettel] did, but after how many races? His seventh race and he’s already saying things in Italian.

“His accent wasn’t too bad!”

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about F1 legend Michael Schumacher from net worth to career stats

Jacques Villeneuve identifies Ferrari problem that has impacted Lewis Hamilton, Alain Prost and Nigel Mansell

Earlier in Sky Sports’ coverage, Villeneuve was asked if Hamilton deserved more time to bed in at Ferrari after a tough start to 2025 and explained, “Not a driver at his level.

“When he moved to Mercedes, it happened very quickly. He didn’t need half a season to bed in.

“But does anyone ever fit in at Ferrari? That is more the question to ask because it’s always a difficult place to be.

“Every driver, even in the days of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell, Jean Alesi, it’s difficult.

“So, it’s very, very difficult, the seats are very hot and nobody sits down comfortably.”

Hamilton followed up all of the difficulties Ferrari have faced this season with his best performance of the campaign.

After nailing his strategy and perfecting the overtaking move around the outside of the first corner, Hamilton ended up finishing fourth.

He wasn’t far away from overtaking Oscar Piastri after his bizarre strategy.

While it would have been incredibly poignant for Hamilton to secure his first Ferrari Grand Prix podium at the team’s home race, he’ll hope he doesn’t have to wait until Monza to finally achieve that feat.