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 lately endured what many take into account his most difficult race thus far 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 location 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 essential for the British driver. He famous that the season is now getting into its center section, and Hamilton has but to discover a constant rhythm or really feel totally snug with the automobile. Chandhok identified that Lewis Hamilton’s performances have been inconsistent, comparable 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 in regards to 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 wherein 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 frightened. With practically half the season gone, it’s time to assess whether or not there are elementary points with the automobile’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 seek out the proper stability for him to really feel assured each race weekend. At the moment, Hamilton experiences an excessive amount of fluctuation between robust and weak performances, which impacts his general outcomes.
Concerning Hamilton’s morale, there was some dialogue about whether or not he may need obtained a lift after latest revelations a few automobile challenge. 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 downside affected Hamilton’s efficiency within the last stint. Though Hamilton didn’t publicly point out the difficulty, David Croft prompt 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 downside. Fred Vasseur’s affirmation of a automobile challenge within the closing levels 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 solely his fault.
Hamilton has a powerful file 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 may very well be the perfect venue for Lewis Hamilton to regain his kind. He remarked that Canada is among 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 said that if Hamilton has one other disappointing weekend related to Barcelona, it could sign deeper points. Nonetheless, he expressed confidence that the seven-time world champion has the power to reverse his fortunes at this significant level within the season.
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