Lewis Hamilton backs Ferrari progress: “We’ll be fighting near the front more often”. Lewis Hamilton praises Ferrari development as Scuderia targets regular front-running form.

Hamilton remains positive despite qualifying setback

“For the first time, we were genuinely fighting for pole position.” Those were the words used by Jerome D’Ambrosio as he attempted to focus on the positives after qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix.

Nevertheless, there was undoubtedly a sense of disappointment within Ferrari after the team was unable to convert its strong practice pace into a front-row result, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc ultimately having to settle for the second row of the grid.

Charles Leclerc openly expressed his frustration after qualifying, explaining that, much like in Canada, he never felt completely comfortable behind the wheel of the Ferrari SF-26. The Monegasque had previously suggested after Montreal that Monaco would allow him to rediscover the confidence and feeling he had been missing, making the outcome even more disappointing from his perspective.

Lewis Hamilton, however, appeared to take a more optimistic view of Ferrari’s performance around the streets of Monte Carlo.

The seven-time Formula 1 World Champion stressed that the Monaco weekend should not be viewed as a final opportunity for Ferrari to secure a breakthrough result. Instead, Lewis Hamilton highlighted the progress being made behind the scenes and expressed confidence that the team is moving in the right direction.

“The team at the factory is doing a fantastic job and I’m confident that in the next races we’ll be able to fight with increasing consistency at the front,” said Lewis Hamilton.

While Ferrari may have missed out on pole position, the Monaco Grand Prix itself still presents an opportunity. With track position so important around Monte Carlo and Ferrari traditionally showing strong race starts this season, there remains hope that Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc can challenge the cars ahead.

Even Max Verstappen has acknowledged Ferrari’s strong launching ability off the line, suggesting that the Scuderia could become a serious threat once the lights go out.

For now, Lewis Hamilton’s message is clear: Ferrari’s progress should not be judged solely on one qualifying session. The work being carried out in Maranello is encouraging, and the team remains convinced that more opportunities to fight at the front are on the horizon.