Lewis Hamilton produced his strongest result so far in Ferrari colours at the Canadian Grand Prix, with the seven-time Formula 1 world champion crediting a noticeably lighter preparation schedule for helping him unlock peak performance at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
The British driver delivered a vintage performance across the fifth round of the 2026 Formula 1 season, capped by a spectacular late-race overtake on Red Bull driver Max Verstappen around the outside, a move that underlined Lewis Hamilton’s enduring race craft and confidence in wheel-to-wheel battles.
The result secured Lewis Hamilton a second-place finish, marking his best Grand Prix outcome since joining Ferrari. It also reinforced his exceptional record in Montreal, where Lewis Hamilton has historically excelled and has never finished lower than sixth in the Canadian Grand Prix.
What made the performance even more significant was Lewis Hamilton’s admission that his preparation heading into the weekend was deliberately reduced. During Thursday media duties, Lewis Hamilton revealed that he had chosen to skip simulator running ahead of the event, a decision that initially raised questions within the Formula 1 paddock but ultimately appeared to deliver clear performance benefits.
Lewis Hamilton explains reduced Ferrari workload before Canadian Grand Prix
Following the race, Lewis Hamilton spoke to ViaPlay and expanded on how a more relaxed build-up to the Canadian Grand Prix contributed to his strong performance. The Ferrari driver suggested that this revised preparation method could become his standard approach for the remainder of the Formula 1 season.
Lewis Hamilton explained that over the previous weeks he had intentionally reduced non-essential commitments, stating that he avoided trips to the Ferrari factory and did not complete simulator sessions. Instead, he prioritised recovery, sleep, and controlled physical training, ensuring he arrived in Canada with higher energy levels and improved mental freshness.
Lewis Hamilton also highlighted the importance of maintaining a stable routine, explaining that he remained in the same time zone as much as possible and spent valuable time with friends and family. According to the Ferrari driver, this balance allowed him to arrive at the circuit with a clearer mindset and a stronger understanding of his driving objectives for the weekend.
He further stated that this simplified preparation approach helped him feel fully prepared once he arrived at the track, adding that he knew exactly how he wanted to position the Ferrari car and execute throughout the race weekend. Lewis Hamilton suggested that this method represented a “new formula” that he intends to carry forward into future Grands Prix.
Lewis Hamilton’s comments are particularly notable given ongoing debate within Formula 1 regarding simulator usage. Some critics, including former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher, have previously argued that reduced simulator time at Ferrari could be limiting Lewis Hamilton’s adaptation to the car, especially in comparison to teammate Charles Leclerc, who is widely regarded as highly consistent in extracting maximum performance from the simulator programme.
Former Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button has also expressed the view that simulator preparation remains a crucial part of modern Formula 1 development. However, Lewis Hamilton’s strong result in Canada appears to challenge that assumption, at least in the short term, as Ferrari’s improved performance coincided with his reduced workload.
Why Lewis Hamilton is rethinking simulator preparation at Ferrari
During the pre-race press conference in Montreal, the Briton provided further insight into his cautious stance on simulator work. While acknowledging that the simulator is an important development tool for Formula 1 drivers, he suggested that it is not always the most effective way for him to prepare for race weekends.
Lewis Hamilton explained that he sometimes feels “the goalposts are always moving” when spending extended time in simulator environments, implying that excessive mileage does not always translate into meaningful performance gains on track.
The Ferrari driver also noted that while simulator sessions involve extensive running and data collection, there eventually comes a point where additional laps provide diminishing returns in terms of learning and performance improvement.
Reflecting on his career, Lewis Hamilton highlighted that the most successful example of simulator effectiveness came during the 2012 Singapore Grand Prix, when he believes virtual preparation directly contributed to strong real-world performance. However, he also suggested that such cases have been rare across his Formula 1 career.
Lewis Hamilton added that he had already taken a similar approach earlier in the 2026 season, revealing that he did not use the simulator ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, a weekend in which he still managed to secure a podium finish in his early Ferrari career alongside Charles Leclerc.
With Ferrari continuing to refine its competitive package and Charles Leclerc remaining a key benchmark within the team, Lewis Hamilton’s evolving preparation strategy will likely remain a key talking point as the 2026 Formula 1 season progresses. For now, however, the Canadian Grand Prix stands as strong evidence that a more relaxed and energy-focused approach may be unlocking the best version of Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari colours.
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