Canadian GP: Lewis Hamilton eyes Montreal comeback amid Ferrari struggles
Veteran champion Lewis Hamilton returns to the scene of past glory hoping to reignite his 2025 F1 season.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo explores whether Montreal could mark the turning point Hamilton so desperately needs.
A familiar circuit, a fresh start?
As Formula 1 heads to Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix, all eyes are on Lewis Hamilton and whether the seven-time world champion can turn around what has been a painfully slow start to life at Ferrari.
With just two top-five finishes from nine races, Hamilton sits sixth in the Drivers’ Championship and remains without a full Grand Prix podium since joining the Scuderia.
Yet, there is cautious optimism in the air. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve has long been one of Hamilton’s favourite hunting grounds.
It’s where he took his maiden win in 2007, and where he has since added six more victories, tying him with Michael Schumacher for the most in Canadian Grand Prix history.
Former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer and analyst Peter Windsor both believe the Montreal circuit may give Hamilton the right ingredients for a much-needed reset.
For a driver searching for rhythm, momentum, and belief, this might be the best possible venue.
Canada as redemption ground
“This has got to be some sort of redemption circuit for Lewis [Hamilton],” said Palmer on the F1 Nation podcast.
“He’s brilliant in Montreal and Ferrari can’t really go worse than they did here last year. This weekend is a genuine opportunity.”
Hamilton’s struggles have been clear on track and even more evident off it.
Sky Sports’ Natalie Pinkham described him as “completely dejected” after recent rounds in Monaco and Barcelona, where he finished behind Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg and appeared mentally exhausted.
“He had more questions than answers,” Pinkham said. “A lot of soul-searching required.”
Hamilton himself has admitted to ongoing adjustments in adapting to Ferrari’s SF-25, a car that has shown glimpses of competitiveness but remains difficult to master.
Still, there have been moments, however fleeting, where the old Hamilton resurfaces.
A strong sprint performance in China showed he still has one-lap speed, and in some sessions, he has run close to team-mate Charles Leclerc.
But putting together a full weekend has proved elusive.
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The Leclerc factor and Ferrari’s fragile momentum
Part of Hamilton’s struggle has been the towering form of Leclerc, who has collected three podiums already this season and leads Ferrari’s charge in the standings.
Analysts like Palmer have noted that while Hamilton may not be far off in raw pace at times, Leclerc’s qualifying and race-day consistency has made the gap seem larger.
“Leclerc is right up there with Max [Verstappen] in terms of one-lap performance,” Palmer added. “Trying to match that is a tall order.”
That said, Ferrari are not without reason to be hopeful. The low-downforce layout in Montreal may mask some of the SF-25’s aerodynamic weaknesses, particularly if tyre degradation remains manageable.
The team currently sit second in the Constructors’ standings, thanks in large part to Leclerc’s results, and could continue climbing if both drivers perform.
Peter Windsor believes Canada’s unique layout could bring the best out of Ferrari. “Ferrari won’t be slow in a straight line,” he said.
“They’ll be pretty good under high-speed braking too. If they manage tyre wear, the rest will be up to the drivers, and they’re very capable around this track.”
A crowded fight at the front
Of course, any hopes of a breakthrough must be measured against the depth of this year’s grid.
McLaren continue to dominate the season’s narrative with consistent speed and race wins.
Red Bull, despite the occasional off weekend, remain a constant threat. Mercedes, though inconsistent, showed signs of recovery in recent rounds.
Windsor cautioned that even with improvements, Ferrari won’t have an easy path.
“It could be very close,” he said. “I can’t imagine Mercedes being slow, or Red Bull, or McLaren. Ferrari will be in the mix, but it’s far from guaranteed.”
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Just a podium would do
This time around, no one’s calling for a win. Expectations are muted.
A podium, even a third-place finish, would be a small but meaningful triumph for Hamilton and a crucial emotional lift in what has been a grinding debut season at Ferrari.
For a driver used to dominating eras, the bar is lower than ever. But a podium in Montreal could be the spark Hamilton needs to believe again.
After all, this is still the same circuit where his F1 story truly began. And perhaps, in 2025, it’s where the next chapter finds its footing.
Canadian GP: More than just another race
Round 10 of the 2025 season carries more emotional weight than points pressure for Hamilton.
While McLaren continues to write the story at the front, Ferrari’s veteran recruit is chasing a more personal victory - the return of form, fight, and perhaps a little joy.
If history has a role to play in Formula 1, then Montreal may just be the place where Hamilton reminds the world, and himself, who he still is.
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