Karun Chandhok raises doubts about Lewis Hamilton’s trust in Ferrari following Montreal revelations

Lewis Hamilton’s Canadian Grand Prix Mastery Sparks Ferrari Hopes Amid Engineering Doubts

Lewis Hamilton remains a dominant force at the Canadian Grand Prix, boasting an extraordinary record that continues to fuel optimism about his potential to secure a morale-boosting result for Ferrari. With seven victories at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the Briton shares the all-time wins record at this venue with Michael Schumacher. Notably, Lewis Hamilton’s first Formula 1 triumph occurred here in 2007, marking the beginning of his remarkable success in Montreal.

Although the British driver has not claimed victory in Canada since 2019, there are important contextual factors to consider. The race was cancelled for two consecutive years due to the global pandemic, and since then, Lewis Hamilton has not always had access to the most competitive car capable of winning at this challenging circuit. Nevertheless, he still managed to achieve podium finishes in both 2022 and 2023, bringing his total top-three results in Montreal to ten. Only five other circuits have seen him stand on the podium more often.

Heading into the Canadian GP weekend, Hamilton sits sixth in the 2025 World Championship standings. Despite his impressive history, he is still chasing his first win of the season and has yet to celebrate a podium finish this year. After scoring eight points in Spain, Hamilton expressed frustration at being overtaken late in the race by Nico Hulkenberg, who was driving the customer Sauber car.

Karun Chandhok Highlights Potential Trust Issues Between Hamilton and Ferrari Engineering
During the FIA press conference on Thursday, Hamilton revealed that Ferrari’s approach to car setup for the Canadian Grand Prix differs significantly from what he experienced at Mercedes and McLaren. He indicated that some of the engineering decisions made by Ferrari did not entirely align with his expectations or previous methods, and he showed eagerness to share insights from his own success at the Montreal circuit.

Commenting on this situation during Sky Sports’ coverage of the second practice session, F1 analyst Karun Chandhok suggested that Hamilton’s remarks point to a lack of complete trust between the driver and Ferrari’s engineering team. Karun Chandhok emphasized that Ferrari’s struggles in Canada are not new — the team has managed only one win there since 2004, with Sebastian Vettel’s victory in 2018 standing out as a rare success.

Karun Chandhok explained that Hamilton’s comments reflect the ongoing process of adaptation between the driver and the team. He remarked that drivers often face challenges when adjusting to new engineering philosophies, especially after years of following their own tried-and-tested approaches. Chandhok stressed the importance of trust in the relationship, noting that engineers hold the technical expertise to optimize the car, and drivers must place confidence in their methods.

He further observed that Hamilton is navigating the balance between relying on his established experience and embracing Ferrari’s different way of working. Karun Chandhok concluded that this adjustment period is natural and necessary for building the mutual trust required for peak performance.

Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur Responds Defensively to Mysterious Hamilton Issue at Spanish GP
Following Hamilton’s appearance at the official drivers’ press conference, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur addressed questions during Friday’s team principals’ session. While much of the media interest focused on Hamilton’s future at Ferrari, Fred Vasseur was also pressed about a mysterious technical issue Lewis Hamilton faced during his demanding final stint at the recent Spanish Grand Prix.

Fred Vasseur responded with notable defensiveness, refusing to disclose details of the problem. He made it clear that the matter would not be clarified, despite repeated inquiries from the press. When pressed further, the French manager responded with sarcasm, joking that the team had “put the front wheel at the rear,” effectively deflecting the line of questioning.

Amid the tense atmosphere, Lewis Hamilton mirrored the legendary Michael Schumacher by publicly defending his embattled team principal ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, signaling his commitment to supporting Ferrari through ongoing challenges.