Lewis Hamilton’s Spanish GP Struggles Spotlight Ferrari Issues Forward of Canadian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton stays essentially the most profitable driver in Spanish Grand Prix historical past, however his dominance at Montmeló was nowhere to be seen in 2025. The seven-time world champion endured one other underwhelming outing with Ferrari final weekend, marking one more setback in a season crammed with challenges.
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has been the positioning of six of Hamilton’s report 105 Grand Prix victories. Nonetheless, this yr the Briton may solely handle a sixth-place end, a place he inherited after Purple Bull’s Max Verstappen acquired a 10-second penalty for colliding with George Russell. Hamilton had initially crossed the road in seventh.
To compound issues, Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg overtook Hamilton late within the race, relegating him from his beginning place of fifth. Regardless of the frustration, Ferrari nonetheless had some motive to rejoice, as Charles Leclerc delivered a robust drive to safe a podium end. The Monegasque driver capitalised on Max Verstappen’s mistake throughout a security automotive restart and got here inside two-tenths of a second of race winner Oscar Piastri, who had began from pole and claimed McLaren’s second victory of the season.
Leclerc’s efficiency in Spain adopted his second-place end on the Monaco Grand Prix, marking the primary time Ferrari has achieved back-to-back podiums within the 2025 season.
Nonetheless, staff principal Fred Vasseur stays cautious regardless of the latest momentum. Talking after the race, he urged the staff to “keep humble,” expressing considerations concerning the unpredictable nature of Pirelli’s 2025 tyre compounds.
Based on feedback reported by Motorsport-Whole, Fred Vasseur defined that whereas Ferrari has proven enchancment in tyre administration over latest rounds, the outcomes from Monaco and Spain don’t assure continued success. He emphasised that every weekend presents a brand new problem and warned that Ferrari should primarily reset their expectations heading into each race. Specifically, he singled out the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal as a possible stumbling block, given the precise traits of the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve and the way in which the tyres behave.
Lewis Hamilton, who has traditionally thrived in Montreal, might not be happy with such a cautious outlook. The Canadian Grand Prix has lengthy been one in every of his strongest occasions, with the Briton securing a joint-record seven victories there—an achievement he shares with Ferrari icon Michael Schumacher. Hamilton has additionally claimed six pole positions on the venue, additional underlining his prowess on the monitor.
Nonetheless, it has been a while since Hamilton final dominated the roost in Canada. His most up-to-date pole place got here in 2017, and his final win was in 2019. Ferrari, too, has not tasted victory in Montreal since Sebastian Vettel’s triumph in 2018. Because the Scuderia now seems forward to the upcoming race weekend from June 13 to fifteen, hopes of a podium end for the Briton stay unsure.
Internally, Lewis Hamilton is believed to be feeling stress—not solely to ship a robust consequence for Ferrari but additionally to silence rising doubts inside the staff. Experiences counsel that the passion surrounding his high-profile arrival has given solution to skepticism amongst some members of the Scuderia.
The transition from Mercedes to Ferrari has not been clean for the 40-year-old, and the dearth of standout performances is starting to put on on each the driving force and the staff.
If Lewis Hamilton is to reignite perception inside the Ferrari camp, a return to type in Canada may very well be essential. Nonetheless, with Fred Vasseur downplaying expectations and the Pirelli tyres posing continued unpredictability, the street to redemption stays steep for System 1’s most adorned driver.
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