Lewis Hamilton's difficult start to life at Ferrari shows no signs of improvement as the seven-time world champion heads to Canada still searching for his first podium finish with the legendary Italian team.
The British driver currently trails teammate Charles Leclerc by 23 points in the drivers' championship.
Hamilton's struggles were evident in Spain where he finished a disappointing sixth place, whilst Leclerc secured his third podium in recent races with a third-place finish.
The 40-year-old has finished six of his first nine races for Ferrari outside the top five, a stark contrast to the form expected from the sport's most successful driver.
Lewis Hamilton finished sixth in the recent Spanish Grand Prix, the sixth time he has finished outside the top five for Ferrari already
Getty
Sky Sports pundit Karun Chandhok has expressed serious concerns about Hamilton's form, describing the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix as entering a "critical" period for the driver.
"We're coming into the second third of the season now, and he's not finding the rhythm," Chandhok said on the Sky Sports F1 podcast.
"In Imola, he was woeful in qualifying, then suddenly the car's brilliant in the race. In Monaco, he wasn't quite there. He was a chunk behind Charles throughout."
JUST IN: Thomas Frank to become next Tottenham manager with Spurs set to pay huge fee for new boss
Karun Chandhok said this is a 'critical' period for Lewis Hamilton
Getty
He suggested Hamilton's engineering team should be "concerned" and consider changing the setup direction of the temperamental SF-25 car.
Hamilton's frustration was palpable after the Spanish Grand Prix, where he made a brutal admission about his performance.
When pressed by Sky Sports about his struggles, the visibly dejected driver responded tersely: "I had a really bad day and I've got nothing to say."
Asked about potential fixes from Ferrari, Hamilton delivered a damning self-assessment: "I'm sure they won't, the answer is probably just me."
READ MORE: Ray Parlour fires warning to 'consistent' Arsenal after Gunners missed out on Premier League title
His comments came after he was instructed to let Leclerc pass during the race, with the Monegasque driver subsequently pulling away "quite comfortably" according to Chandhok.
The veteran driver's mood was evident when he told interviewer Rachel Brookes: "It was a difficult day, I've got nothing else to add to it."
Despite his struggles, Hamilton's season hasn't been entirely without success.
He claimed a sprint race victory in China, demonstrating he still possesses race-winning ability when given the right machinery.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Lewis Hamilton won the sprint race in China this year
Getty
His best grand prix result came at Imola where he finished fourth.
However, the gap to championship leader Oscar Piastri now stands at a substantial 115 points.
Chandhok maintains faith in Hamilton's abilities, stating: "I'm not disputing that he's still got the ability he clearly does.
"He's able to win races, we saw that in China, but they need to find a sweet spot for him."
The Canadian Grand Prix represents familiar territory for Hamilton, who secured his maiden F1 victory at the Montreal circuit in 2007.
Most Read
