Lewis Hamilton Faces Tough Canadian GP Return as Ferrari Engineers Lose Faith in SF-25 Upgrades
Lewis Hamilton heads into the 2025 Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix still searching for his first podium with Ferrari, as doubts grow within the Scuderia over the effectiveness of their upcoming upgrades to the struggling SF-25.
The Canadian Grand Prix at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve has historically been one of Hamilton’s most successful venues. He shares the all-time record for most wins at the event—seven—with fellow seven-time Formula 1 world champion and Ferrari legend Michael Schumacher. While the German claimed six of his victories at the track with Ferrari, the Briton secured three with McLaren and four with Mercedes. He also holds a share of the record for the most pole positions in Canada—six, once again tied with Michael Schumacher.
But as the 2025 F1 calendar brings the championship to Montreal from June 13 to 15, Lewis Hamilton appears unlikely to add to either of those tallies. His debut season with Ferrari has so far failed to deliver any podium finishes, and the 40-year-old currently languishes in sixth in the drivers’ standings on 71 points—trailing Oscar Piastri by a significant 115-point margin.
Hamilton Calls for Focus Shift as Ferrari Prepares Canadian GP Upgrade Package
While Hamilton’s adaptation to the SF-25 continues to prove difficult, the car’s underlying flaws have also left Ferrari well behind their rivals. The team sits 197 points adrift of McLaren in the constructors’ standings, sparking calls from Hamilton for the Scuderia to abandon further development of the 2025 car and shift resources toward preparing for the 2026 Formula 1 regulation overhaul.
Despite his concerns, Ferrari are set to introduce a new rear suspension and revised floor in Canada, according to reports from Motorsport.com. However, internal confidence in these changes appears muted. Technicians and engineers at Maranello have reportedly accepted that the SF-25 is fundamentally flawed and agree with Lewis Hamilton’s assessment that any performance gains from the upgrades are likely to be marginal at best.
Initially, Ferrari had hoped the SF-25 would offer strong development potential, but their latest design seems to have reached its limits. Engineers are now struggling to find viable solutions to improve the car’s rear-end stability—an area that has particularly hampered Lewis Hamilton’s performance this year.
Fred Vasseur Remains Confident as Ferrari Accelerates Development Timeline
Team principal Fred Vasseur remains the lone optimist inside Ferrari, maintaining what has been described as “unwavering confidence” in the SF-25. While Charles Leclerc has managed to score three podiums this season—including a P2 in Monaco and P3 finishes in Saudi Arabia and Spain—Lewis Hamilton has not come close to replicating such results. Nonetheless, the French manager hopes the revised suspension and floor will help Ferrari close the gap to Red Bull and McLaren in the upcoming rounds.
Ferrari had originally planned to introduce the updated rear suspension at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, which might have given Hamilton a morale boost on home soil. Those plans were later revised, with the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring seen as a more feasible target for the parts rollout.
However, in a move that signals increasing urgency, Ferrari have now accelerated their development schedule and will bring the upgrades to Montreal at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. While the change in timeline could reflect a desire to rapidly reverse their declining form, expectations within the team remain cautious. As Ferrari braces for another pivotal weekend, Lewis Hamilton’s search for redemption continues—at a circuit that once symbolised his dominance but now underscores the scale of his current challenge.
