Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton faces a vital weekend on the Canadian Grand Prix on the 4.361-kilometre Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal, as highlighted by Sky Sports activities F1 analysts Karun Chandhok and David Croft. The seven-time world champion not too long ago endured what many contemplate his most difficult race up to now with Ferrari on the Spanish Grand Prix, the place he was surprisingly outpaced by teammate Charles Leclerc in Barcelona. Though the Briton secured a Dash race victory earlier within the season in China, he stays with out a full Grand Prix podium after 9 races with Ferrari, whereas Leclerc has already claimed three.
Following his disappointing efficiency on the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Lewis Hamilton returns this week to Canada—the positioning of his first System 1 victory—hoping for a turnaround to regain momentum. Karun Chandhok expressed on the newest episode of The F1 Present that the scenario is changing into more and more crucial for the British driver. He famous that the season is now getting into its center part, and Hamilton has but to discover a constant rhythm or really feel totally snug with the automotive. Chandhok identified that Lewis Hamilton’s performances have been inconsistent, similar to being poor in qualifying at Imola however robust within the race, and never fairly matching Charles Leclerc in Monte Carlo, the place he remained effectively behind his Maranello teammate.
Karun Chandhok indicated rising concern concerning the kind for the previous Mercedes driver, particularly after the Spanish Grand Prix weekend in Barcelona, the place Charles Leclerc overtook and pulled away comfortably even earlier than tyre methods got here into play. After a troublesome 2024 System 1 season through which Hamilton was outperformed by his Mercedes teammate George Russell, many hoped his swap to Ferrari would revive his competitiveness, however the sample of struggles has largely persevered. Chandhok added that if he had been in Hamilton’s place, he can be anxious. With practically half the season gone, it’s time to assess whether or not there are elementary points with the automotive’s setup that want addressing.
He emphasised that the Briton’s expertise stays plain—evidenced by his China win—however the group nonetheless wants to search out the right stability for him to really feel assured each race weekend. Presently, Hamilton experiences an excessive amount of fluctuation between robust and weak performances, which impacts his total outcomes.
Relating to Hamilton’s morale, there was some dialogue about whether or not he may need obtained a lift after latest revelations a couple of automotive subject. Whereas Hamilton himself attributed his efficiency deficit to his personal driving after the Spanish GP, Ferrari group principal Frederic Vasseur later disclosed {that a} mechanical drawback affected Hamilton’s efficiency within the ultimate stint. Though Hamilton didn’t publicly point out the difficulty, David Croft urged that understanding the issue may need helped Hamilton’s morale.
David Croft defined that Hamilton was visibly down after Spain and that Ferrari didn’t specify the precise drawback. Fred Vasseur’s affirmation of a automotive subject within the closing phases signifies Hamilton’s lack of race tempo was not solely attributable to driver efficiency. The British tv broadcaster for Sky Sports activities reasoned that going again to the drafting board to determine and repair the issue might function a morale booster for Lewis Hamilton, figuring out that his struggles weren’t totally his fault.
Hamilton has a powerful report in Canada, with six pole positions and 7 race wins on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, together with his final victory in 2019. Croft believes that this observe could possibly be the perfect venue for Lewis Hamilton to regain his kind. He remarked that Canada is likely one of the Briton’s favourite circuits and a spot the place he has traditionally carried out effectively, securing each his first pole and first F1 victory there. Croft acknowledged that if Hamilton has one other disappointing weekend comparable to Barcelona, it might sign deeper points. Nonetheless, he expressed confidence that the seven-time world champion has the flexibility to reverse his fortunes at this significant level within the season.
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