Ferrari SF25 data from Lewis Hamilton raises concerns for Charles Leclerc in Montreal

Charles Leclerc Faces Canadian GP Challenge After FP1 Crash Leaves Him Dependent on Lewis Hamilton’s Data

Scuderia Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc enters the Canadian Grand Prix weekend at a disadvantage after a costly crash in Friday’s FP1 session left him with minimal running and fully reliant on teammate Lewis Hamilton’s telemetry and data. The Monegasque lost control of his SF-25 at Turn 3 early in the session, locking up heavily before sliding into the barriers and sustaining significant chassis damage.

The impact fractured the chassis of Leclerc’s Ferrari, which meant he was unable to participate in FP2. According to reports, Ferrari were not granted FIA approval to rebuild the car until the following day, and even with permission, the mechanics would not have had sufficient time to complete the necessary repairs before the end of Friday’s running. Analyst Karun Chandhok suggested that Charles Leclerc may have been too ambitious in trying to recover the corner after the lock-up, ultimately paying the price for that optimism.

With only a handful of laps completed, Leclerc has been forced to observe from the garage and will now rely on data collected by Hamilton to make crucial setup decisions heading into qualifying and the race. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve has traditionally been a difficult venue for Charles Leclerc; since joining Ferrari, he has only qualified higher than 10th in Montreal once.

Hamilton’s Performance in FP2 Raises Questions for Ferrari and Leclerc

Lewis Hamilton didn’t fare much better during FP2, placing ninth and clocking in over half a second slower than George Russell, who led the session for Mercedes. More concerning was the fact that Hamilton was also outpaced by both Williams drivers and Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin.

Lewis Hamilton, now 40, has struggled to consistently extract peak one-lap performance from the SF-25 this season. So far, he trails Leclerc 7-2 in qualifying head-to-heads. However, the more pressing concern for Leclerc and Ferrari is race pace — a department in which the team has shown worrying signs.

As noted by Auto Motor und Sport, Ferrari’s long-run pace left much to be desired in Montreal, with Hamilton again being outperformed not only by the Williams duo but also by Pierre Gasly in the Alpine. That comparison is particularly painful given Alpine currently sit at the bottom of the constructors’ standings. It’s a troubling indicator considering Ferrari’s recent battles with Williams, such as in Miami, where the Scuderia could only manage seventh and eighth place.

Ferrari Deny Hamilton’s Request for Steering Adjustment Ahead of Montreal Race

Amid the struggles, Ferrari are hoping to recover performance overnight through data analysis and setup revisions. Leclerc, despite being sidelined for most of Friday, is expected to close the gap once he’s back on track, a trend that has repeated throughout the 2025 season. Nevertheless, he faces a steep climb if he hopes to extend his podium streak to three consecutive races.

Reports have circulated suggesting the Monegasque may be frustrated with the increased attention Lewis Hamilton is receiving from Ferrari engineers. However, given the circumstances, the team has had no choice but to prioritize Hamilton’s input to gather meaningful data for both cars.

It’s also worth noting that Lewis Hamilton hasn’t had things entirely go his way. The British driver had requested a change to the car’s power steering system to address a slight delay in response time, but Ferrari informed him that such a modification couldn’t be executed on short notice. This further underscores the limitations both drivers are facing as the team attempts to stay competitive in what is shaping up to be a tightly contested Canadian Grand Prix weekend.