The seven-time world champion believes tricky Montreal conditions could help Ferrari mask its straight-line weakness
Lewis Hamilton continues to look like Ferrari’s most competitive driver during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, despite a small mistake in the Sprint Race that ultimately left him finishing behind Charles Leclerc while trying to defend against Oscar Piastri. The 41-year-old Briton has once again shown strong form around the walls of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, a venue where he has traditionally excelled, and the 2026 edition of the event appears to be no different.
Saturday qualifying offered another encouraging performance from Lewis Hamilton, who came close to securing a second-row starting position before once again being edged out by the two McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri—much like what had already happened during Sprint Qualifying on Friday.
As a result, the Ferrari driver will once again line up from fifth on the grid for the Canadian Grand Prix, hoping to replicate the strong launch he produced in the 100-kilometre Sprint Race. More importantly, he will be aiming to fight on equal terms with the papaya cars, despite Ferrari’s clear power unit disadvantage, which has been especially noticeable on Montreal’s long straights.
Lewis Hamilton reflects on qualifying performance
Speaking to Sky Sport after qualifying, Lewis Hamilton admitted that his session had moments of promise, but he was unable to put everything together when it mattered most.
“Well, in Q1, actually, I was so-so, but I was on used tyres. Then in Q2 and also at the start of Q3, I got going well and I knew there was probably a little bit more time to find. But in practice, I couldn’t do it—I got a bad start on the final lap.”
While Ferrari showed decent pace in certain phases of qualifying, the inability to maximize the final Q3 attempt proved costly, especially with the margins at the front remaining incredibly tight throughout the Canadian GP weekend.
Rain could be Ferrari’s best chance in Montreal
Beyond his starting position, Lewis Hamilton appears to be placing some hope in the weather forecast. Wet or mixed conditions could potentially reduce Ferrari’s straight-line deficit and place greater emphasis on chassis balance, traction, and driver confidence—areas where the SF-26 may be more competitive.
“I don’t really know what to expect in the race, and we’ll definitely have to see what the weather conditions are like. But I’m optimistic. We’ll work hard tonight and, if we do end up racing in the wet, then obviously we’ll need to optimize a few things, but the car is in a pretty good place.”
Hamilton added: “I hope the rain can level the playing field a little bit for everyone and that it will allow me to perform a bit better.”
If the weather does turn unpredictable, the Canadian Grand Prix could become a far more open contest than qualifying pace alone suggests, particularly if Ferrari can capitalize on strategy and changing grip levels.
Ferrari driver cleared after stewards review potential impeding incident involving Pierre Gasly
Lewis Hamilton will keep his fifth-place starting position for the Canadian Grand Prix after stewards decided not to penalize the Ferrari driver following a post-qualifying investigation. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion had been placed under investigation for a potential impeding incident involving Pierre Gasly during the opening phase of qualifying at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. The review created some uncertainty over Ferrari’s grid position, with the possibility of a penalty that could have pushed Lewis Hamilton further down the starting order.
After examining video footage, telemetry data, and hearing from all parties involved, the stewards concluded that no further action was necessary.
Lewis Hamilton explained that Pierre Gasly did not appear to be on a flying lap at the time of the incident, and Ferrari’s pit wall reportedly reached the same conclusion based on the information available to them during the session.
Pierre Gasly and the Alpine team also stated that they did not consider Lewis Hamilton’s actions to constitute unnecessary impeding. That assessment played a key role in the stewards’ final verdict, allowing the Ferrari driver to retain his fifth-place grid slot for Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix.
The decision comes as a relief for Ferrari, with Lewis Hamilton having delivered the strongest qualifying performance among the team’s drivers in Montreal. Starting from fifth, the British driver will now look to convert that solid grid position into a competitive race result, particularly if changing weather conditions create strategic opportunities.
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