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Jolyon Palmer believes the Canadian Grand Prix weekend will be crucial in determining the trajectory of Lewis Hamilton’s season.
Hamilton started the season strongly with a fourth place in Australia and a maiden Ferrari podium in China. However, the last two race weekends have been more difficult.
He slipped to sixth in Japan while teammate Charles Leclerc scored a podium and lagged behind throughout the Miami weekend, even if Leclerc’s post-race penalty swapped the Ferraris around. Hamilton finished P7 in the Sprint and P6 in the Grand Prix.
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Jolyon Palmer: Lewis Hamilton needs to get his form ‘back’ at Canadian Grand Prix
Historically, Canada has been one of Hamilton’s strongest circuits. Only Silverstone (nine wins) and the Hungaroring (eight) have been happier hunting grounds than Montreal (seven).
Last year, this was one of only five tracks where Hamilton outqualified Leclerc, though he did later finish a spot behind in the race.
On that basis, there’s every reason to expect an improvement from Hamilton this weekend, whose previously ‘upbeat’ demeanour has fallen a little flat.
“His track record around Canada is really supreme,” Palmer said on the F1 Nation podcast. “He has only been outqualified by a teammate three times out of 16 attempts.
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“It does feel like he needs to just halt that downward momentum. After those early few races, very upbeat Lewis, input in the car’s good, the Ferrari was obviously a competitive, race-leading car…
“Canada’s a circuit he’s always been really strong at – seven wins, six poles. He needs to get it back here.
“I think he can as well. I think Ferrari should have a sensible car still, and if you’re Lewis, then you do just turn up with a bit more swagger at a circuit you’ve always gone well at.
Lewis Hamilton needs to strike against Charles Leclerc before Monaco
Palmer added that the 41-year-old Hamilton only needs to be in the same race as Leclerc, rather than ahead.
While Ferrari should be favourites in Monaco given the strength of their chassis (as opposed to their engine), Leclerc will be extremely difficult to beat on home soil.
If Hamilton loses out in Canada, then he could easily find himself on a four-race run of trailing his teammate.
“Even for Lewis, if they’re just close on pace, that’s fine,” said Palmer. “If they’re just back in the mix together, on the same row of the grid and we’re talking about the two Ferraris being in contention, rather than, ‘Can Charles win it?’
“That felt like it was the case through Miami. You had Charles trying to hunt down the McLarens in the Sprint, you had Charles leading the Grand Prix, all the while Lewis – I know he had a bit of damage – was just struggling a little bit more for that last couple of tenths.
“If it’s the same on a circuit he’s always been good at, the next one is Monaco. I know Lewis has always been alright in Monaco, but Charles is brilliant in Monaco. It’s his home track, he’s sensational around there.
“You’ll start to see a picture, if Lewis can’t be strong in Canada, that you’re thinking, ‘The season’s just drifting away from him again.'”
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