Lewis Hamilton was once again left frustrated as his Canadian Grand Prix outing fell short of expectations, with teammate Charles Leclerc ultimately emerging ahead in Ferrari’s internal battle. Despite outqualifying Leclerc on Saturday—capitalising on the Monegasque driver’s disrupted final lap—Lewis Hamilton’s long-standing success in Montreal failed to translate into a meaningful result this time around.
The Canadian track, where Hamilton has previously claimed seven wins, has historically been a stronghold for him. Yet, the 2025 edition marked another low point in his debut season with Ferrari. After 10 rounds, Hamilton has yet to reach the podium—something unprecedented in his 18-season Formula 1 career, not counting Sprint races.
Although former driver and pundit Danica Patrick noted a particularly surprising comment from Lewis Hamilton over the weekend, there were reasons for cautious optimism as the Brit lined up for Sunday’s race. A podium appeared within reach as lights went out, but by the time Hamilton made his first pit stop, that ambition had already faded.
While Charles Leclerc was voicing growing irritation over Ferrari’s race strategy, the Briton’s situation was even more dire. He was contending with significant technical difficulties that team boss Fred Vasseur is unlikely to overlook.
Rear instability and braking issues derail Hamilton’s Canadian Grand Prix
Hamilton’s race engineer Riccardo Adami informed him early in the race that the car had suffered a 20-point drop in downforce. Sky Sports F1 commentator Martin Brundle estimated the resulting performance loss at around half a second per lap. What caused this downforce deficit remains uncertain, but it set the tone for a race filled with mechanical struggles.
Throughout the Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton consistently relayed his concerns to the pit wall. He questioned whether there was an issue with rear grip, stating that the rear end felt loose. Riccardo Adami reportedly replied that the car appeared balanced from the data. Later, the Briton conveyed frustration about losing significant time while stuck behind slower cars and expressed disbelief at the car’s lack of pace and power.
He complained of having “no rear” and raised alarms about the declining performance of the brake pedal. At one point, he reported an inability to stop the car effectively, prompting Riccardo Adami to confirm that the brake pedal had indeed become extended and was being monitored. The situation escalated further when the seven-time F1 world champion asked how he had fallen 25 seconds behind Charles Leclerc, despite having started ahead on the grid—a telling indicator of just how serious the problems were.
Ferrari’s radio woes persist as Hamilton adapts to life without Mercedes’ Bonnington
Lewis Hamilton’s radio exchanges with the Italian side continue to highlight the growing pains of adapting to a new team environment. While his former engineer at Mercedes, Peter Bonnington, was busy overseeing Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s strong result in Canada, Lewis Hamilton was left bewildered by Ferrari’s decision-making.
One notable point of confusion came during qualifying, where Lewis Hamilton struggled to grasp the tyre strategy deployed by the Scuderia. This pattern has become increasingly familiar since he joined Ferrari, with both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc frequently at odds with the pit wall over various decisions.
While heated radio conversations are not exclusive to Ferrari, the spotlight on their missteps grows brighter with every underwhelming performance. The persistent strategic uncertainties, coupled with unresolved car issues, continue to prevent Hamilton from making a smooth transition to life in red—fueling further questions about Ferrari’s internal cohesion and competitiveness in 2025.
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