Villeneuve: Ferrari 'Way Off' for Home Monza Race, Leclerc's Frustration Deepens

Former F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve believes Ferrari is "way off" their pace entering their home Italian Grand Prix. This follows a disastrous Zandvoort weekend and a five-place grid penalty for Lewis Hamilton at Monza.

Why it matters:

Ferrari traditionally thrives at Monza, energized by their home crowd. However, Villeneuve's stark assessment predicts a tough home race, dampening Tifosi hopes. The team's struggles also affect driver morale, notably Charles Leclerc.

The big picture:

Villeneuve points to a fundamental flaw in Ferrari's car: "They are way off. The car is not working." He dismisses any customary "extra" Monza boost as insufficient. Leclerc's frustration deepens as he may be realizing his championship dreams with Ferrari are fading, especially with new regulations in 2025, typically a challenging period for the Scuderia.

The details:

• Zandvoort Fallout: Ferrari suffered a nightmare at Zandvoort. Hamilton crashed, and Leclerc retired after a collision with Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli.
• Hamilton's Penalty: Hamilton received a five-grid place penalty for Monza due to failing to slow under yellow flags at Zandvoort.
• Leclerc's Discontent: Leclerc publicly questioned team strategy at Zandvoort. Villeneuve noted, "his star has fallen a little bit."
• Vasseur's Optimism: Team principal Frederic Vasseur highlighted Lewis Hamilton's recovering confidence, despite Hamilton calling himself "useless" in Hungary. Hamilton reached Q3 at Zandvoort, his first since July.
• Reality Check: Villeneuve states Ferrari, though potentially second in Constructors', is "the fourth horse," due to other top teams having only one consistent point-scorer.

What's next:

All eyes are on Ferrari at Monza. Can they defy Villeneuve's bleak forecast and leverage their home support? Hamilton aims to build on his renewed confidence despite his penalty.