Lewis Hamilton Qualifies Fifth in Canada, Edges Out Leclerc Once more as Ferrari Faces Set-Up Struggles
Lewis Hamilton delivered a robust efficiency throughout qualifying for the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix, securing fifth place on the grid. The consequence marks the second consecutive weekend the place the seven-time world champion has outqualified his Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc, underscoring a latest uptick in his single-lap efficiency.
Lewis Hamilton’s constant kind in qualifying has been evident in latest races, with Saturday’s top-five consequence marking his third in a row. Though he suffered a three-place grid drop in Monaco, his uncooked tempo has remained aggressive. In Montreal, Charles Leclerc initially appeared threatening in Q3 after setting a purple first sector, however his hopes had been dashed by a big slide that compromised his lap. Because of this, the previous Mercedes man closed the intra-team qualifying scoreline to 7-3, preserving the battle inside Ferrari alive.
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve has lengthy been a Hamilton stronghold. It was right here in 2007 that he captured his maiden System 1 victory, and since then he has amassed a complete of seven wins on the Canadian Grand Prix — a report solely equalled by Michael Schumacher. The Briton’s familiarity with the observe and his skillful execution beneath braking have grow to be emblems of his dominance in Montreal.
Forward of Saturday’s qualifying session, former teammate Nico Rosberg highlighted Hamilton’s distinctive potential on the brakes, significantly on the vital hairpin close to the tip of the lap — a nook that may outline a driver’s last time. Rosberg, talking on Sky Sports activities, described Hamilton as being persistently good at mastering that sector, which he believed was a key motive for the Briton’s enduring success at this venue.
Throughout qualifying, Sky Sports activities analyst Martin Brundle additionally praised Lewis Hamilton’s efficiency after reviewing onboard footage. Martin Brundle famous how aggressively Lewis Hamilton attacked Flip 10 and expressed amazement at his late braking, which he nonetheless managed to transform right into a clear nook entry. He described the braking as “gorgeous” and commented that he initially doubted Hamilton would make the nook, just for the Briton to show in any other case with pinpoint execution.
Such optimistic observations from skilled figures within the paddock come at a vital time for Hamilton, who remains to be adapting to life at Ferrari. One of many main changes he has confronted this season entails the braking techniques. Whereas Ferrari runs Brembo brakes, Hamilton had grown accustomed to the Carbon Industrie setup throughout his lengthy stint at Mercedes. Regardless of this technical transition, he’s steadily discovering his rhythm.
Nevertheless, Ferrari’s inner information from the weekend has raised some issues. Lewis Hamilton and his engineering workforce reportedly disagreed on the optimum automobile setup, with each events approaching the weekend with drastically completely different philosophies. Based on analyst Karun Chandhok, this divergence displays a relationship that’s nonetheless growing, with either side working to construct mutual belief of their decision-making processes.
Hypothesis had briefly emerged about Hamilton’s long-term dedication to Ferrari, however forward of the race, the British driver reaffirmed his dedication to the challenge. He emphasised that he stays totally targeted on delivering outcomes and adapting to the distinctive challenges that include driving for the Maranello-based workforce.
Whereas Lewis Hamilton stays optimistic about chasing his first podium of the 2025 season on Sunday, there are lingering doubts relating to his race tempo. Observe periods revealed an underwhelming efficiency, with Hamilton lapping slower than each Williams drivers and even Pierre Gasly within the Alpine — a automobile that in the end didn’t progress out of Q1.
If Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix follows a typical race script, Hamilton may battle to match the tempo of the Mercedes duo, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri. But, the streets of Montreal are recognized for his or her unpredictability. Security automobiles, climate modifications, and strategic gambles typically flip the race on its head — one thing Hamilton will hope to capitalize on in his quest to return to the rostrum.
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