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Lewis Hamilton experienced a tough weekend at the Canadian Grand Prix, where he finished sixth and set an unfortunate record in Formula 1. Montreal has been a strong venue for Hamilton in the past, with seven previous race victories, but this year marked his lowest-ever finish at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
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The result also meant Hamilton failed to reach the podium for Ferrari, extending a stretch he has been eager to break since joining them. For the first time in his 19-season F1 career, Hamilton has gone through the opening ten races of a season without a single podium appearance.
In 2009, he had to wait until the tenth race to stand on the podium, which was a win in Hungary. This year, the streak without a top-three finish will hit at least eleven with the Austrian Grand Prix next on the schedule.
His last appearance on an F1 podium came at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where he finished second for Mercedes in 2024. Since then, painful runs in Qatar and Abu Dhabi left him outside the top three, finishing twelfth and fourth respectively, to close out the season.
This ongoing run without a podium is closing in on his personal worst. Hamilton set his longest podium drought of thirteen races from the 2023 Sao Paulo Grand Prix through the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix, where he finally managed a third-place result.
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If he is unable to score a podium in the upcoming race in Austria, his winless streak will reach twelve. A blank result there and at the British Grand Prix would mean a new career low: fourteen consecutive races without a podium finish.
Despite these challenges, Hamilton still holds impressive records from earlier in his career. He has claimed the most consecutive podium finishes at his home race at Silverstone, with eleven, going back to 2014.
This consistency places him among Formula 1’s most successful drivers at a home circuit. At McLaren, Hamilton keeps the outright team record for consecutive podiums, with nine.
During the Montreal race, Oscar Piastri of McLaren had a chance to equal this mark but finished in fourth, keeping Hamilton’s place in the records. As Ferrari prepares for races where they hope to compete stronger, Hamilton’s ongoing quest to return to the podium is one of the main stories to watch.
His place in the history books is already secured with multiple records, but both the team and fans will be hoping for an end to this difficult run. The next opportunity arrives in Austria, and the pressure will be on to reverse the pattern.
Hamilton’s persistence continues to define his legendary Formula 1 career, even through one of its more challenging periods. Hamilton responds to Ferrari claims reflecting his ongoing determination amid this tough phase.
John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.