Charles Leclerc admitted Ferrari still has work to do after Sprint qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix, with the Monegasque driver highlighting brake concerns while also acknowledging Lewis Hamilton’s impressive pace so far in Montreal.
Sprint qualifying in Canada produced a neatly structured grid, with each top team locking out an entire row. Mercedes secured the front row, McLaren claimed the second, Ferrari lined up third, while Red Bull completed the top four rows.
Inside the Ferrari garage, Lewis Hamilton had the upper hand over Charles Leclerc, with the seven-time world champion delivering a stronger performance in Sprint qualifying. Hamilton may also feel frustrated not to have achieved an even better result, as a small mistake on his final lap likely cost him a place on the second row alongside the McLarens.
Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, was left focused on a more immediate technical concern.
“We need to solve the braking problems, otherwise it’s going to be a very long weekend because I’m approaching the corners hoping I don’t go straight on,” Charles Leclerc said after Sprint qualifying.
Despite those issues, the Ferrari driver still saw some positives in the overall performance of the SF-26.
“Apart from the braking feeling, the car is working quite well. Hamilton? He has been very fast so far this weekend. I need to work on the brakes, and I hope to turn the situation around tomorrow.”
Ferrari’s pace in Montreal has been somewhat encouraging despite pre-weekend concerns about the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve exposing the team’s straight-line speed deficit. However, with braking confidence proving critical on a circuit defined by heavy deceleration zones and aggressive attacks on corner entry, resolving Charles Leclerc’s issues quickly could be essential if Ferrari wants to challenge higher up the order for the remainder of the weekend.
Overcoming these technical limitations and adapting to evolving track conditions will be critical for Ferrari as the weekend progresses. Identifying the root cause of the braking inconsistencies quickly is the team’s absolute priority if they hope to secure a strong haul of championship points in Montreal.
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