Lewis Hamilton took a cheeky jab at 1997 Formula 1 champion Jacques Villeneuve ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix. The dig came while the seven-time champion reflected on the enduring legacy of Jacques’s legendary father, Gilles Villeneuve, after whom the track in Montreal is named.
When asked about Gilles Villeneuve during the press conference ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, Hamilton explained: “Yes, as much as I can say about it, I personally didn’t really know a lot about him, to be honest. I obviously knew about Niki [Lauda], more so because I got to spend a lot of time with him, and obviously, I had to learn and watch him when I was growing up.
“So, whilst reading up on some of the great drivers that have been here, all I really knew is that he was a great driver. He seemed to be, from some of the videos, a driver that really was at the edge of his seat, really being able to balance the car as it’s moving, which was pretty cool to see.”
Jacques Villeneuve on stage.
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
The Ferrari driver then added with a laugh: “And obviously far better than his son.”
Over the years, the Canadian has never shied away from vocalising his criticism of Hamilton. After Hamilton joined Ferrari at the start of 2025, he struggled to adapt to the new car and team. Villeneuve argued that the Maranello outfit had not got what it had signed.
“They’re not getting what they signed,” Villeneuve said while speaking to Sky Sports F1 ahead of the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix. “So there will be some frustration in there from both camps – from the team, from Lewis – because he’s not getting the car he was wanting. He doesn’t feel the team is behind him. The team doesn’t feel Lewis is with them.”
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