Hamilton Outpaces Championship Rivals in F…read more
The Canadian Grand Prix weekend has delivered an unexpected twist in the 2025 Formula 1 season, as Lewis Hamilton, now donning Ferrari red, appears to be spearheading a strong revival for the Italian team. During the final practice session (FP3) at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Hamilton, along with his teammate Charles Leclerc, impressed during qualifying simulations, placing themselves among the top four fastest drivers.
Ferrari’s resurgence comes at a pivotal point in the season. The team, which had shown encouraging pace improvements in recent races, seems to have found further momentum in Montreal. Both drivers showed solid form throughout Saturday’s session, a promising sign ahead of qualifying and Sunday’s race. This performance marks a potential turning point, especially for Hamilton, who is still adjusting to life at Ferrari after his high-profile switch from Mercedes.
In stark contrast, McLaren’s Canadian campaign has unraveled over the weekend. Friday’s free practice sessions were described by Lando Norris as their “worst Friday of the year,” and Saturday provided little relief for the Woking-based team. Struggling with balance and grip issues, both Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri failed to get into the mix with the front runners, suggesting the team has work to do if they are to salvage points from this round.
Adding further drama to the weekend, one of Ferrari’s stars brought out the red flags in FP3 with a crash that briefly halted proceedings. While the driver emerged unscathed, the incident disrupted several teams’ simulation runs and added to the tension as teams prepared for qualifying.
Elsewhere, the dominant championship leaders found themselves surprisingly off the pace. Having looked untouchable in earlier rounds, both drivers were unable to match the speed shown by Ferrari and a few other midfield teams during both Friday sessions and Saturday morning. The team’s engineers were seen scrambling for solutions, as data suggested their usual setup advantages were neutralized by the bumpy and unpredictable nature of the Montreal street circuit.
This unexpected dip in form opens the door for a shake-up in the championship standings, particularly if Ferrari or another rival capitalizes in Sunday’s race. While it’s too early to declare a full-scale shift in momentum, the signs are there that the title fight could become far more competitive in the coming weeks.
The stage is now set for an intriguing qualifying session later today, with Ferrari looking confident, McLaren desperate for a turnaround, and the title leaders under pressure for the first time in several races.
