What Jacques Villeneuve spotted on Lewis Hamilton’s onboard camera that was ‘not a good sign’ for Ferrari

Ferrari appear to be at the back of the leading pack after the first three race weekends of the 2025 Formula 1 season.

McLaren have won two Grand Prix this year, while Max Verstappen proved his incredible talent by tasting victory at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton’s old team, Mercedes, recorded back-to-back podiums through George Russell at the start of the season, leaving Ferrari clinging to the 40-year-old Sprint Race victory in China as their only bright spot this year.

What might concern Hamilton even more is the fact that the rookie who replaced him, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, was capable of driving away from the seven-time world champion in the closing stages of the race on his way to setting the fastest lap of the Grand Prix.

Hamilton was positive about Ferrari’s chances during pre-season, where it appeared as though the Scuderia were the second-best team behind McLaren.

However, that hasn’t come to pass, and on top of the double disqualification of both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in China, they’ve never looked in contention to secure a podium, let alone a win, in any of the first three Grand Prix of the year.

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

Lewis Hamilton’s onboard footage worried Jacques Villeneuve at the Japanese Grand Prix

David Croft and Jacques Villeneuve were commentating on the race for Sky Sports F1 (6/4 6:19 am) and watching Hamilton’s Ferrari closely during the opening stages.

Croft spotted something while studying Hamilton’s car more closely and stated: “Looking at the Ferrari, it’s not got the most stable rear end I would have thought.”

Villeneuve replied: “I was about to say, the Ferrari slides a fair amount.

“We’re looking at the Ferrari, it’s moving around, sliding around, heating up the tyres.

“That’s not a good sign for the longer run, but you could also tell that Russell had a much tighter line.

“He would back off a bit so that he could have a tighter exit and get on the gas better.”

READ MORE: All you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory

How Ferrari’s board see Fred Vasseur’s position after slow start to the 2025 F1 season

Ferrari have incredibly high standards and have been through several team principals since the last time they won a championship in 2007.

Fred Vasseur is the most recent person to take charge of the Scuderia and the way he turned the team around last season was widely praised.

In fact, Nico Rosberg hailed Vasseur for his role in Leclerc’s victory at Monza, such is his hands-on approach on the pit wall.

However, Ferrari’s performances this year are under the microscope, particularly as it’s hard to see Hamilton and Leclerc suddenly being competitive given how quickly the season is going to progress.

Ferrari’s board still have full faith in Vasseur, but that can quickly change if they get dragged into the midfield, rather than pressuring the likes of Mercedes and Red Bull.

This was highlighted by Hamilton being outqualified by Isack Hadjar at Suzuka on Saturday, something he won’t want to see happen again.