The internal battle between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc took an unexpected turn at the Canadian Grand Prix, with the seven-time world champion delivering arguably his strongest Formula 1 weekend since joining Ferrari.
While Lewis Hamilton celebrated his best finish yet in red after an aggressive and controlled drive to the podium, Charles Leclerc endured one of the most difficult weekends of his career. The contrast between the two Ferrari drivers became one of the biggest talking points in the paddock after Montreal.
Over a full race distance, the gap between the two team-mates was striking. Lewis Hamilton crossed the finish line just over ten seconds behind race winner Andrea Kimi Antonelli, while Charles Leclerc ended the Grand Prix more than half a minute adrift of the British driver.
The result not only shifted momentum inside Ferrari, but also intensified speculation about how both drivers may perform heading into Monaco—a circuit many now believe could suit the SF-26 perfectly.
Ferrari reportedly joked about Charles Leclerc’s Montreal difficulties
Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft revealed that Ferrari personnel appeared relatively relaxed when discussing Charles Leclerc’s difficult Canadian Grand Prix weekend.
According to Croft, members of the Scuderia informally suggested that part of the Monegasque driver’s struggles simply came down to the nature of the Montreal circuit itself, a track that has historically never fully matched Charles Leclerc’s preferences or driving rhythm.
The Ferrari driver himself later described the weekend as a “nightmare,” admitting he never found confidence with the tyres or the overall balance of the car from the opening laps of practice onwards. Despite the disappointing result, many within the Formula 1 paddock believe the situation could change dramatically at Monaco. David Croft went as far as suggesting that the Monaco Grand Prix could become Ferrari’s biggest opportunity of the 2026 Formula 1 season so far.
According to the British commentator, Ferrari’s weaknesses on straights are unlikely to hurt them around the tight streets of Monte Carlo, while the SF-26’s strong low-speed cornering performance could make the car extremely competitive in qualifying—the most decisive element of any Monaco weekend.
Ferrari’s pace through slower sections in Montreal already caught the attention of several rivals, reinforcing the belief that the Scuderia may arrive in Monaco as genuine favourites for pole position and victory.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc set for fascinating Monaco showdown
Much of the anticipation surrounding Monaco now centres around the internal Ferrari fight between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
Lewis Hamilton appears increasingly comfortable with Ferrari’s systems and setup philosophy, while the-28-year-old has historically been exceptional around Monaco’s narrow streets. The Monegasque driver has often produced some of the strongest qualifying laps of his Formula 1 career at his home event, and Ferrari insiders know that track position in Monaco can define the entire weekend.
If Ferrari manages to lock out the front row, many inside the paddock believe the race could effectively fall into the Scuderia’s hands.
At the same time, the battle between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc may become even more intense. Monaco rewards confidence, precision and commitment more than almost any other circuit—and both Ferrari drivers will see the weekend as a major opportunity.
McLaren still viewed as a serious threat
Despite Ferrari’s growing status as favourites, not everyone is convinced the Monaco Grand Prix will become a straightforward Ferrari affair.
Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher warned that McLaren should not be underestimated, especially after the Woking-based team compromised its own Canadian Grand Prix with questionable strategic decisions. According to Schumacher, the real pace of the McLaren package remains difficult to judge because the team effectively removed itself from contention in Montreal after gambling on the wrong tyre strategy early in the race.
The German also questioned whether Lewis Hamilton would necessarily have finished second had both McLaren cars remained competitive throughout the Grand Prix. Still, Schumacher acknowledged that Monaco’s layout could strongly favour Ferrari, particularly because the SF-26 appears extremely effective over kerbs and in traction zones—two crucial areas around the Principality.
That leaves Formula 1 heading into Monaco with a fascinating scenario developing: Ferrari may finally have the car to dominate the streets of Monte Carlo, but the bigger question could become which of its two star drivers emerges on top.
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