Lewis Hamilton’s Spanish GP Struggles Highlight Ferrari Concerns Ahead of Canadian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton remains the most successful driver in Spanish Grand Prix history, but his dominance at Montmeló was nowhere to be seen in 2025. The seven-time world champion endured another underwhelming outing with Ferrari last weekend, marking yet another setback in a season filled with challenges.
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has been the site of six of Hamilton’s record 105 Grand Prix victories. However, this year the Briton could only manage a sixth-place finish, a position he inherited after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen received a 10-second penalty for colliding with George Russell. Hamilton had originally crossed the line in seventh.
To compound matters, Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg overtook Hamilton late in the race, relegating him from his starting position of fifth. Despite the disappointment, Ferrari still had some reason to celebrate, as Charles Leclerc delivered a strong drive to secure a podium finish. The Monegasque driver capitalised on Max Verstappen’s mistake during a safety car restart and came within two-tenths of a second of race winner Oscar Piastri, who had started from pole and claimed McLaren’s second victory of the season.
Leclerc’s performance in Spain followed his second-place finish at the Monaco Grand Prix, marking the first time Ferrari has achieved back-to-back podiums in the 2025 season.
However, team principal Fred Vasseur remains cautious despite the recent momentum. Speaking after the race, he urged the team to “stay humble,” expressing concerns about the unpredictable nature of Pirelli’s 2025 tyre compounds.
According to comments reported by Motorsport-Total, Fred Vasseur explained that while Ferrari has shown improvement in tyre management over recent rounds, the results from Monaco and Spain do not guarantee continued success. He emphasized that each weekend presents a new challenge and warned that Ferrari must essentially reset their expectations heading into every race. In particular, he singled out the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal as a potential stumbling block, given the specific characteristics of the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve and the way the tyres behave.
Lewis Hamilton, who has historically thrived in Montreal, may not be pleased with such a cautious outlook. The Canadian Grand Prix has long been one of his strongest events, with the Briton securing a joint-record seven victories there—an achievement he shares with Ferrari icon Michael Schumacher. Hamilton has also claimed six pole positions at the venue, further underlining his prowess at the track.
However, it has been some time since Hamilton last ruled the roost in Canada. His most recent pole position came in 2017, and his last win was in 2019. Ferrari, too, has not tasted victory in Montreal since Sebastian Vettel’s triumph in 2018. As the Scuderia now looks ahead to the upcoming race weekend from June 13 to 15, hopes of a podium finish for the Briton remain uncertain.
Internally, Lewis Hamilton is believed to be feeling pressure—not only to deliver a strong result for Ferrari but also to silence growing doubts within the team. Reports suggest that the enthusiasm surrounding his high-profile arrival has given way to skepticism among some members of the Scuderia.
The transition from Mercedes to Ferrari has not been smooth for the 40-year-old, and the lack of standout performances is beginning to wear on both the driver and the team.
If Lewis Hamilton is to reignite belief within the Ferrari camp, a return to form in Canada could be crucial. However, with Fred Vasseur downplaying expectations and the Pirelli tyres posing continued unpredictability, the road to redemption remains steep for Formula 1’s most decorated driver.
