After Sprint Qualifying in Canada, Lewis Hamilton struck a positive tone despite finishing fifth — a result that should not be viewed too negatively given Ferrari’s pre-weekend expectations. The British driver explained that choosing not to prepare for the Canadian Grand Prix in Ferrari’s simulator, and instead focusing on engineering meetings and data analysis, played an important role in what he described as his strongest qualifying performance of the season so far.
Hamilton had already hinted at this decision before the Montreal weekend began. Following the Miami Grand Prix, where he sensed a disconnect between the setup work completed at the factory and the actual behaviour of the car on track, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion chose to take a different approach.
Rather than spending time in the Maranello simulator, Lewis Hamilton concentrated on technical debriefs with Ferrari’s engineers and a more data-focused preparation process. The feeling was that simulator work had not always matched the reality experienced once the SF-26 hit the circuit, often forcing the team to effectively restart setup work from scratch.
That said, it would be simplistic to claim this alone explains Hamilton’s performance. Formula 1 pace is shaped by many factors, including power unit deployment strategies and track-specific characteristics that simulator work does not fully define. Montreal, of course, has always held a special place for Lewis Hamilton. It was the circuit where he secured his first Formula 1 victory, and it remains one of the venues where he has enjoyed the greatest success throughout his career.
This combination of factors has made the Canadian Grand Prix one of his favourite events on the calendar.
Lewis Hamilton calls it Ferrari’s best qualifying so far
For Lewis Hamilton, however, the decision to skip simulator preparation clearly had a positive impact. He ended Sprint Qualifying fifth, less than four tenths away from pole position, and described it as Ferrari’s strongest qualifying showing in a long time.
Lewis Hamilton: “Probably this is the best qualifying session we’ve had so far, for quite a long time. We did a really great job with the engineers, we made some setup improvements that made me feel really good from Free Practice 1, and then we made a few more small changes before qualifying.”
The final gap should also be viewed in context. Montreal is a circuit where power unit performance plays an especially significant role, historically even being one of Formula 1’s highest fuel-consumption tracks.
It is no secret that Ferrari remains behind Mercedes in terms of internal combustion engine performance, and that deficit becomes particularly visible on the straights, where the SF-26 appears to lose around seven tenths to the Silver Arrows. That advantage comes from a combination of factors. While Ferrari can recover some performance in the medium and low-speed corners of Sector 1 — where Lewis Hamilton actually set the fastest sector split — the four major acceleration zones in Montreal heavily favour the more powerful Mercedes W17.
Lewis Hamilton himself highlighted this familiar qualifying pattern among Mercedes-powered teams:
Lewis Hamilton: “In SQ1 and SQ2 we were doing pretty well. Then I don’t know exactly why it went that way, maybe the others turn the engine up a bit more. But I’m happy that I was in the fight, and I had so much fun out there today. Also, I think because I didn’t work in the simulator, I felt better than I have at any other weekend this year. Maybe that’s the path I need to follow for the rest of the season.”
A new setup direction for Montreal
The British driver also revealed that Ferrari tried a setup configuration never previously used by him at the Canadian circuit — and the early signs were encouraging. The focus was placed primarily on stability and mechanical balance, two crucial areas at a circuit like Montreal, where drivers spend significant time aggressively attacking the kerbs.
Lewis Hamilton: “We worked really hard, analysing data from the past few weeks. I found that much more useful — it gave bigger benefits — focusing on training and not being distracted, while searching for mechanical stability, corner balance and the overall mechanical balance of the car. In the end, we used a setup we had never used before here. I think that transformed the car for me, and I hope that’s a good sign for the rest of the weekend.”
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