Lewis Hamilton’s candid remarks about his struggles adapting to Ferrari’s 2025 F1 car have surprised Danica Patrick, highlighting ongoing challenges for the seven-time world champion during the Canadian Grand Prix qualifying, which was held yesterday at the 4.361-kilometre Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal. Lewis Hamilton secured fifth place in Q3 for the third consecutive race, showing a resurgence in his single-lap performance—a skill that had been less evident since his move from Mercedes to Ferrari ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Early in the year, the Briton only managed a top-five qualifying position once in the first seven rounds, but recent strong performances in Monaco, Spain, and Canada demonstrate an improvement. At the Canadian GP, Lewis Hamilton even led Ferrari’s qualifying efforts, outperforming teammate Charles Leclerc, who finished eighth after a difficult session. This marked just the third time Hamilton has out-qualified the Monegasque since joining Maranello.
Lewis Hamilton’s strong qualifying run helped shift focus away from the intense speculation surrounding Ferrari’s team principal Fred Vasseur. Italian media had reported that Fred Vasseur’s position could be at risk, with only three races left to prove himself amid Ferrari’s disappointing 2025 campaign. Additionally, Ferrari is reportedly seeking answers about Lewis Hamilton’s adaptation struggles to the SF-25 car, which differs significantly from his previous Mercedes vehicle. Despite his P5 qualifying position, Hamilton admitted that every race presents a new challenge due to the distinct nature of Ferrari’s car.
In a recent interview with Sky Sports F1, the seven-time F1 world champion explained that each track feels like a first-time experience with the Ferrari, describing the car as “very, very tricky to adapt to.” He expressed optimism about the race, noting that the team had new medium and hard tyres available, which could offer a strategic advantage. This admission of constant adaptation challenges caught the attention of former IndyCar star Danica Patrick, who expressed surprise at Hamilton’s comments. Patrick said she was particularly intrigued by Hamilton’s description of the Ferrari’s differences from the Mercedes and was curious about which aspects the driver finds difficult to handle.
Lewis Hamilton’s biggest technical hurdle has been Ferrari’s rear suspension design on the 2025 car, which has proven difficult for him to master. Additionally, he has pushed for changes in the power steering mapping to better exploit the SF-25’s potential. However, Ferrari is expected to wait until the 2026 regulations come into effect before making such significant adjustments, meaning Lewis Hamilton may have to cope with these challenges throughout the rest of the season. The British driver is eager for the team to shift focus fully to next year’s car to improve competitiveness.
While the Briton continues to face these adaptation struggles and Ferrari falls further behind McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship standings, many insiders share his concerns. Fred Vasseur remains one of the few Ferrari figures still confident in the 2025 car’s development, choosing to delay a full transition to the 2026 model. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton’s candid reflections underline the uphill battle the team faces to regain its winning form.
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