The disappointment was amplified by the fact that Ferrari, on paper, was expected to perform well at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, a track that favors cars with good drivability over the kerbs, which the SF-24 supposedly excels at. However, signs of trouble emerged during qualifying, as both Leclerc and Sainz failed to make it to Q3. Race day only worsened the situation, as Leclerc faced a power unit issue that forced him to retire, while Sainz crashed towards the end of the race, taking Alex Albon along.
In their post-race report, Ferrari expressed their disappointment: “Scuderia Ferrari HP had a disappointing Canadian Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz retiring from the race in Montreal.”
Leclerc’s luck took a turn for the worse after his triumphant victory at his home Grand Prix in Monaco, where he was closing in on Max Verstappen in the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship, reducing the gap to 31 points. However, the weekend in Montreal proved to be disastrous for the Monegasque driver, as he failed to score points while Verstappen emerged as the winner, widening the gap once again.
Leclerc acknowledged the engine issue as the main obstacle in his race: “The engine issue was the main factor that compromised our race. We were losing significant time per lap compared to other cars, so we took a risk to switch to slicks, knowing it was our only chance to finish in the points. We had nothing to lose, and I don’t regret that decision. It hurts, and it’s a big loss of points for the team, as neither of us was able to finish. We will investigate the issue to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”
Sainz, on the other hand, has not been able to recover the form he showed at the beginning of the season, when he won a race in Melbourne and was consistently competitive. His mistake on the kerb not only ended his own race, but also caused the unfortunate collision with Albon. Reflecting on the race, Sainz admitted: “It was a race to forget for the team. We knew it would be challenging, as we struggled with grip and car drivability throughout the weekend. The whole race was on the edge, and when I tried to overtake in the DRS train, I made a mistake on the kerb. I apologize to the team and to Alex (Albon) for that. We have work to do before Spain to understand what went wrong and ensure we don’t find ourselves in this situation again. We move forward.”
The Ferrari team principal, Fred Vasseur, summed up the team’s Canadian race, acknowledging the difficulties they faced: “This was an extremely difficult weekend for us. On one side of the garage, Charles had an engine issue that resulted in a loss of approximately 80 horsepower for about 15 laps. We were hoping for a red flag to restart, but that didn’t happen. We had to make a pit stop, which cost us a lap and effectively ended Charles’ race, as he was overtaken. As for Carlos, he had a poor start and found himself in the middle of the pack. At one point, there was contact that damaged the rear wing and the floor, making it impossible for him to continue.”
Vasseur expressed his hope that this difficult weekend was an anomaly and that the team will be in better shape for the next race in Spain: “It wasn’t a good weekend from the start. I hope this means we had all our problems in one Grand Prix and we will return to Spain in much better form. We will analyze and consider what we could have done differently. We did not anticipate that this weekend would be so challenging, especially considering our good long-run pace on Friday. It’s a long season, and there will be ups and downs, but I hope we don’t have many downs like this.”
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Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton achieved another impressive victory at the Spanish Grand Prix last Sunday. With a masterful performance, Hamilton surpassed his opponents and crossed the finish line in first place. This victory puts him in a privileged position in the championship, increasing his chances of winning the world title.
Hamilton, known for his exceptional skill on the track, dominated the race from the start. He showed incredible speed and overtook his rivals with ease. His team, Mercedes, also played a key role in his victory, providing a fast and reliable car.
With this win, Hamilton secured his fourth consecutive triumph this season. He is establishing himself as the driver to beat in Formula 1. His determination and talent are impressing everyone in the world of motorsport.
In addition to Hamilton’s victory, the Spanish Grand Prix also had other exciting moments. Several drivers had intense battles and showcased their skills on the track. It was an exhilarating race from start to finish, keeping Formula 1 fans on the edge of their seats.
The next race will be the Monaco Grand Prix, one of the most iconic on the Formula 1 calendar. Hamilton is confident in his ability to continue his winning streak and increase his lead in the championship. Fans are eager to see another spectacular performance from the British driver.
With his dominant performance and relentless pursuit of victory, Lewis Hamilton is proving to be one of the greatest drivers in Formula 1 history. His determination and talent are propelling him to the top of the sport and inspiring a new generation of drivers. The world of motorsport eagerly awaits to see what Hamilton will do next.
