Formula 1 analysts suggest that the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix weekend is of significant importance for Lewis Hamilton.
The seven-time world champion experienced arguably his most challenging race since joining Ferrari at the recent Spanish Grand Prix, where his teammate Charles Leclerc demonstrated considerably stronger pace.
While Hamilton did secure a Sprint race victory at the second round in China, he is yet to achieve a podium finish in a full Grand Prix for the Italian squad after nine races, in contrast to Leclerc who has three.
Following the disappointing outcome in Spain, Hamilton returns this week to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Canada, the track where he claimed his very first Formula 1 win. He is in clear need of a performance boost to alter his season`s trajectory.
Speaking on a recent F1 program, Karun Chandhok commented that the situation for Hamilton is “starting to get a bit critical.” He noted that as the season approaches its halfway point, Hamilton is struggling to find a consistent rhythm and feel comfortable with the car on a regular basis.
Chandhok highlighted the variability in Hamilton`s performances, citing instances like a difficult qualifying session in Imola followed by a strong race, and being significantly slower than Leclerc throughout the Monaco weekend.
The analysts believe there is a growing sense of concern. The fact that Leclerc could comfortably overtake Hamilton and pull away in Spain, even before considering later tire strategies, was particularly telling.
Hamilton`s struggles this season mirror his performance in 2024 with Mercedes, where his teammate George Russell often held the upper hand. The high-profile move to Ferrari was hoped to provide a fresh start and renewed energy, but the pattern of inconsistency has largely continued.
Chandhok added that if he were part of Hamilton`s garage crew, he would be concerned. He stressed that nearly halfway into the year, it`s crucial to understand if there is a fundamental problem that necessitates a change in the car`s setup direction.
He maintained that he doesn`t question Hamilton`s inherent skill or ability to win races, pointing to the China Sprint win as evidence. However, he emphasized the team`s need to find a consistent “sweet spot” for the car that allows Hamilton to perform at his best every weekend, something they haven`t achieved yet.
Chandhok concluded that the current fluctuations between strong and weak performances are simply too pronounced.
Regarding the Spanish race, while Hamilton initially suggested his own driving was the reason for the large gap to Leclerc, Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur later indicated that a car issue had affected the Brit`s performance in the final laps.
Hamilton himself did not publicly mention any car issue after the race. However, F1 commentator David Croft suggested that obtaining clarity on a specific technical problem might offer Hamilton a morale boost.
Croft remarked on how downcast Hamilton seemed after Spain and referenced Vasseur`s comment about the car issue in the closing stages. He pointed out that Hamilton lacked race pace for the majority of the race, not just the end, and stressed the need for analysis to find the underlying cause.
Croft reiterated his belief that confirming a fundamental car problem would likely be more encouraging for Lewis than the perception that his performance deficit was solely due to his own driving.
Looking ahead, Canada holds special significance for Hamilton. It`s the site of his first F1 pole and win, and he has accumulated seven victories and six poles there. Croft sees the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve as a potentially ideal venue for Hamilton to regain his form.
Croft underlined the critical nature of the upcoming race for Hamilton, given his historical success and affection for the Montreal track.
He described Canada as “Lewis Hamilton`s track” and warned that another underwhelming performance similar to Barcelona would raise significant concerns about deeper issues.
However, Croft expressed confidence that if anyone possesses the capability to overcome challenges and reverse their fortunes, it is the seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton.
