Lewis Hamilton’s impressive pace throughout the Monaco Grand Prix weekend has not gone unnoticed, with former Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button highlighting a striking detail from the Ferrari driver’s cockpit that revealed just how comfortable he has become behind the wheel of the SF-26.
After arriving in Monte Carlo fresh from a strong podium finish in Canada, Lewis Hamilton immediately looked at home on the narrow streets of the Principality. Ferrari enjoyed a highly encouraging start to the weekend, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc sharing the top positions across Friday’s practice sessions and reinforcing the belief that the Scuderia could be the team to beat around one of Formula 1’s most iconic circuits.
The characteristics of the Ferrari SF-26 appear particularly well suited to Monaco’s unique demands. Strong mechanical grip, excellent traction out of slow-speed corners and an aerodynamic package capable of generating confidence through the tightest sections of the circuit have helped both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc establish themselves among the leading contenders.
While Charles Leclerc’s outstanding record and natural speed around his home circuit make him an obvious favourite, Lewis Hamilton has steadily built momentum in recent races and has shown increasing confidence with Ferrari’s latest package. That combination has created an intriguing intra-team battle heading into one of the most important qualifying sessions of the season.
Jenson Button spots unusual detail on Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari
During the third and final practice session, television coverage briefly displayed information from the Briton’s steering wheel, allowing analysts to examine some of the setup choices being made inside the Ferrari garage.
Former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports F1 analyst Anthony Davidson was particularly surprised by the brake bias values being used by Lewis Hamilton. The Ferrari driver was seen running a significantly forward brake balance, a setting that many drivers would consider extremely aggressive around a circuit where precision and confidence under braking are critical.
Davidson noted that Lewis Hamilton appeared to be operating with brake bias settings of approximately 62% to 63% towards the front axle. He explained that Formula 1 cars typically operate closer to 58% in what is generally considered the optimal range, suggesting that the figures displayed on the seven-time world champion’s steering wheel reflected a car that required careful management.
The observation immediately caught Jenson Button’s attention.
The 2009 Formula 1 World Champion, who raced alongside Lewis Hamilton at McLaren, explained that his former teammate has always preferred a car that responds aggressively at the front end. According to Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton’s driving style has historically favoured a more responsive front axle, allowing him to rotate the car aggressively through corners and exploit small movements from the rear of the car.
Jenson Button suggested that this preference partly explains why Lewis Hamilton initially struggled to extract maximum performance from previous generations of ground-effect Formula 1 cars. Those machines were notoriously unforgiving when drivers attempted to induce rear-end rotation, often resulting in costly mistakes.
By contrast, the current generation of cars allows drivers greater freedom to manage the rear of the car and adapt their driving style, something that appears to suit Lewis Hamilton much better.
After reviewing the brake bias figures, Jenson Button admitted he was surprised by how far forward Lewis Hamilton had shifted the balance. However, he also interpreted it as evidence of the seven-time world champion’s growing confidence in the Ferrari package.
Jenson Button explained that while the numbers appeared unusually high, they also demonstrated the level of trust Lewis Hamilton had in the front brakes. He pointed out that front-wheel locking has been a recurring issue for several teams throughout the 2026 season and had even been visible during Friday’s practice sessions, including moments involving Charles Leclerc.
Given those circumstances, Jenson Button viewed Lewis Hamilton’s setup choice as a sign that the Ferrari driver felt comfortable pushing the limits without fearing instability under braking.
Ferrari faces fresh challenge from Kimi Antonelli
Although Ferrari dominated much of Friday’s running, the final practice session introduced a new contender into the equation.
After Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc locked out the top two positions during both practice sessions on Friday, Mercedes youngster Kimi Antonelli emerged as the surprise benchmark in FP3. The championship leader delivered another impressive performance to edge ahead of the Ferrari duo and place himself firmly in contention for pole position.
The result added a fresh layer of uncertainty to the Monaco weekend. While Ferrari’s pace remains undeniable, Mercedes has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to deliver when it matters most, and Kimi Antonelli’s emergence at the front threatens the hopes of Ferrari supporters dreaming of seeing either Lewis Hamilton or Charles Leclerc start from pole position.
With overtaking notoriously difficult around Monaco, qualifying is expected to play a decisive role in determining the outcome of the Grand Prix. That means the battle between Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and Kimi Antonelli could ultimately decide not only pole position but potentially victory itself on the streets of Monte Carlo.
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