Lewis Hamilton faced a tough time during the Canadian Grand Prix. His SF-25 suffered from significant understeer, and to make matters worse, he also hit a groundhog. This collision caused him to fall back, forcing him to settle for sixth place, resulting in further disappointment for the British driver. “It’s clear to me that we’re not competing for victories this year.”
During the Canadian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton hit a groundhog, causing such damage to his SF-25 that he had to abandon his pursuit of Oscar Piastri. The Briton ultimately had to concede to his teammate Charles Leclerc, who started eighth and crossed the finish line in fifth place.
Hamilton’s season with his new team, Ferrari, has been challenging so far. After eleven loyal years with Mercedes, it’s primarily a year of adjustment and learning for the seven-time world champion. “I think you all don’t see what’s happening in the background. And there’s a lot going on,” Hamilton told the media in Montreal. “There’s a lot that needs to be improved, a lot needs to change. It’s clear to me that we’re not competing for victories this year.”
Understeer Issues
The SF-25 proves to be a challenging car for both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, but it seems that Hamilton is having more difficulty with the package than his Monegasque teammate. In Canada, he even adjusted his driving style during the qualification to secure a better starting position. “I think I’m mainly adapting, but this circuit has really exposed the car’s weaknesses,” said Hamilton. “I’ve never sat in a car with so much understeer at low speed, it just didn’t want to turn in at turn 2 and turn 10.”
Although the Brit has largely set his sights on next season, he continues to work hard with the Ferrari staff and looks forward to an upgrade for the SF-25. “I know we’re not competing for the championship and that’s not a great feeling. I also know that I’m getting used to working with the team, that we’re laying the foundation and trying to go in the right direction. We want to make changes so that we have a car that can win and is consistent next year. With that in mind, I’m okay,” he said. “Of course, I want to win. I was really hoping for a podium fight today, but at the moment we don’t have the performance for that. Hopefully, with an upgrade in the future, we’ll be stronger and sharper.”
