Lewis Hamilton’s strongest Ferrari result still highlighted a familiar problem
Lewis Hamilton secured his best Grand Prix finish since joining Ferrari by crossing the line in second place at the Canadian Grand Prix, but the encouraging result did not completely silence the concerns that have followed him throughout the opening phase of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Despite demonstrating impressive pace and tyre management in Montreal, Lewis Hamilton once again reported frustration with Ferrari’s performance on the straights. Throughout the race, the seven-time world champion found himself chasing Max Verstappen and repeatedly noticed how difficult it was to match the Red Bull’s acceleration and top-speed performance.
The battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen became one of the key storylines of the Canadian Grand Prix. After losing position to the Dutchman during the early stages of the race, Lewis Hamilton spent much of the afternoon trying to stay within striking distance. Although a mistake at Turn 8 cost him valuable time, he eventually reclaimed the position later in the race thanks to strong race pace and intelligent tyre management.
However, the difficulty of closing in on rivals along Montreal’s long straights once again reinforced a concern that has surfaced repeatedly since the start of the season.
A recurring theme throughout Ferrari’s 2026 campaign
The Canadian Grand Prix was far from the first occasion on which Lewis Hamilton questioned Ferrari’s straight-line performance.
During the race, the British driver reported over team radio that Max Verstappen appeared to be pulling away whenever the cars reached the straights. Similar comments have been heard throughout the opening five races of the championship.
The issue first emerged during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend, when the seven-time world champion expressed concern about a perceived lack of power on the main straight. The topic resurfaced several times in Japan, where the Ferrari driver repeatedly indicated that rivals were gaining time whenever full throttle became the dominant factor.
At Suzuka, Lewis Hamilton ultimately finished behind both Mercedes drivers, teammate Charles Leclerc and McLaren driver Lando Norris. The situation repeated itself again in Miami, where the Ferrari driver questioned whether there were any available settings or adjustments that could improve his performance on the circuit’s longest straight sections.
Given Ferrari’s well-documented power unit deficit compared to Mercedes and Red Bull, many observers naturally interpreted Lewis Hamilton’s comments as evidence that the SF-26 continues to lack outright horsepower.
Yet Ferrari’s management believes the reality may be more nuanced.
Fred Vasseur points to the regulations rather than the engine
Following the Canadian Grand Prix, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur was asked about Lewis Hamilton’s recurring concerns. Rather than attributing the issue solely to engine performance, Fred Vasseur suggested that the explanation lies within the characteristics of Formula 1’s new regulations.
Under the 2026 technical framework, energy deployment plays a much larger role in overall performance than in previous generations of cars. The way electrical energy is distributed throughout the lap can significantly alter a driver’s perception of acceleration and available power.
According to Fred Vasseur, drivers can sometimes interpret differences in energy deployment as a lack of engine performance, particularly when they are engaged in close wheel-to-wheel battles.
The Ferrari team principal explained that the new regulations distribute energy differently around the lap, creating situations where drivers may feel more vulnerable on certain sections of the circuit. In his view, these sensations can become amplified when racing directly against competitors, even if the overall performance level remains competitive.
Fred Vasseur emphasised that Ferrari’s race pace in Canada was strong enough to challenge at the front, a conclusion supported by Lewis Hamilton’s eventual second-place finish.
The SF-26 continues to show contrasting strengths
The discussion surrounding Ferrari’s power unit remains one of the most important technical topics of the 2026 season.
While the SF-26 has consistently impressed through medium- and low-speed corners thanks to its balanced chassis and strong mechanical grip, the car still appears vulnerable whenever outright power and energy deployment become decisive factors.
This contrast was once again visible in Montreal. Lewis Hamilton demonstrated excellent pace through the technical sections of the circuit and managed his tyres superbly during the race. However, whenever he attempted to attack Max Verstappen on the straights, the task became significantly more difficult.
Even so, the Canadian Grand Prix offered reasons for optimism. Ferrari’s overall competitiveness was stronger than many expected heading into the weekend, particularly on a circuit that was not considered ideally suited to the SF-26’s characteristics.
For Lewis Hamilton, the result represented another important step in his adaptation to Ferrari’s systems and to Formula 1’s radically different 2026 cars. For Ferrari, it provided further evidence that the gap to the front may be smaller than the raw speed figures sometimes suggest.
As the championship now heads towards Monaco, where engine performance traditionally plays a far smaller role, Ferrari will hope that the strengths of its chassis can once again compensate for any remaining shortcomings in straight-line speed. If that proves to be the case, both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc could find themselves firmly in contention at one of the most important races of the season.
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