Scuderia Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton faced a challenging start to his 2025 F1 Canadian GP weekend, finishing fifth in FP1 before slipping to eighth in FP2. While Ferrari showed flashes of pace, Hamilton admitted that his day did not unfold as he had hoped, with the car’s performance falling short of expectations after early promise.
Early positivity fades after setup changes
The seven-time World Champion appeared relatively upbeat after a solid showing in FP1, where he placed fifth and looked comfortable around Montreal’s Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. However, things took a turn in FP2, as changes made to the car’s setup left Hamilton struggling to find a rhythm.
“Not great, not particularly great,” he summarised, when reflecting on his day. “I love driving here and the crowd’s been amazing today, but the car is a lot different to what I’ve experienced here in the past.”
Ferrari had hoped to build on encouraging signs from recent races, but Hamilton suggested that setup tweaks intended to unlock more performance instead had the opposite effect at the 2025 F1 Canadian GP.
“I think FP1 was alright, then we made some changes. Honestly, I thought the car was quicker, and we just went slower – or they [our rivals] went quicker.”
Rear locking hampers progress
One of Hamilton’s main concerns during FP2 was rear locking, an issue that unsettled the car under braking and made it difficult to push confidently through several of Montreal’s chicanes and heavy braking zones.
Rear locking is especially problematic on a circuit like Gilles-Villeneuve, where traction and braking consistency are critical. Ferrari will need to address the balance issues overnight to give Hamilton a better platform heading into Saturday.
Cautious outlook for Qualifying
Looking ahead to Qualifying, Hamilton struck a cautious but determined tone. Although he remains confident in his ability to deliver, he acknowledged that the team must find improvements if they are to challenge at the front.
“I don’t know [what’s possible],” he said. “I think it will be a challenge to get into Q3 at this rate, but not impossible. Then I think trying to fight to get into the top five is going to be tough.”
With unpredictable weather potentially in play and just one session left before Qualifying, Ferrari and Hamilton will be working hard overnight to dial in the SF-25 and put themselves in the mix for a competitive grid slot.
