Mercedes and George Russell opened the Canadian Grand Prix weekend in commanding fashion, with the Silver Arrows locking out the front row for the Sprint race in Montreal. While the updated W17 appears to have taken a meaningful step forward, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve once again seems to be playing directly into Mercedes’ hands. Meanwhile, Ferrari arrived in Canada with modest expectations, only for Lewis Hamilton to produce one of his most encouraging performances of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Mercedes finds its ideal hunting ground in Montreal
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli began the Canadian Grand Prix weekend in dramatically stronger form than what Mercedes had shown in Miami. George Russell converted that pace into Sprint pole position, putting the upgraded Mercedes W17 at the front of the field and reinforcing the impression that this circuit remains one of the team’s strongest venues in the ground-effect era.
Mercedes has been gradually introducing its first major development package since pre-season testing in Bahrain. Engineers have worked across several important aerodynamic areas, including the front wing, floor, and diffuser. While the changes have not fundamentally altered the character of the car, they have clearly improved its overall competitiveness.
Interestingly, Toto Wolff was reportedly less enthusiastic than expected, believing Mercedes should have held an even larger margin over the competition. In Sprint qualifying, the advantage appeared to be around three to four tenths of a second—still significant, but notably smaller than the six-to-seven-tenth gaps seen earlier in the season. Whether that advantage remains intact for full qualifying and Sunday’s race remains one of the key questions of the weekend.
However, the strength of Mercedes in Montreal is not simply about upgrades. The Canadian circuit naturally complements the W17’s characteristics. Circuit Gilles Villeneuve places relatively low thermal stress on tyres, making temperature control easier, while its repeated heavy braking zones and traction-focused exits create exactly the kind of environment where Mercedes has traditionally excelled.
Within the garage, George Russell currently has the upper hand, with the British driver pointing to Montreal’s high-grip surface as a crucial factor in his performance. That observation indirectly suggests that Miami’s lower-grip asphalt may have amplified some of Mercedes’ weaknesses. Kimi Antonelli remains extremely close, however, with the young Italian regretting a slightly cautious first sector after an earlier mistake during his opening Q3 attempt.
The Sprint start could prove decisive, and Mercedes appears to have focused heavily on improving launch performance after previous issues. Positive signs reportedly emerged during the sole practice session, which could further strengthen the team’s prospects.
Lewis Hamilton revitalised by Ferrari setup changes
Ferrari arrived in Montreal expecting a difficult weekend. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve exposes straight-line power deficiencies, and Ferrari’s engine disadvantage remains a major concern. Unlike other circuits, Canada also offers few high-speed corners where the SF-26 can fully exploit its aerodynamic strengths.
That context makes Lewis Hamilton’s Sprint qualifying performance particularly noteworthy.
Despite ultimately missing out on the second row, the seven-time world champion appeared transformed compared to recent weekends. Without the errors in his decisive qualifying lap, Lewis Hamilton could realistically have lined up directly behind the two Mercedes cars. Some observers may wonder whether skipping simulator preparation contributed to the improved performance, but the reality appears more technical. Behind the scenes, Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari’s engineers have reportedly spent recent weeks carefully analysing several problem areas that had been limiting his confidence in the SF-26.
Particular attention was given to braking behaviour, corner entry characteristics, and mid-corner balance. Lewis Hamilton had previously complained that the Ferrari felt sluggish on turn-in and suffered from persistent understeer through the middle of corners. That analysis ultimately led Ferrari to approve a significantly revised mechanical setup, one that appears to have dramatically improved driver confidence.
That confidence is especially critical in Montreal, where drivers must attack aggressively and brush the walls with absolute precision. Lewis Hamilton’s long-standing comfort at this circuit may also have played an important role. The absence of fast direction changes and complex combined braking phases arguably reduces some of the rear-end instability issues that have affected him elsewhere—areas where Charles Leclerc has generally adapted more comfortably.
For Ferrari, the frustration is that the raw result may not fully reflect the potential shown.
McLaren faces an unexpectedly difficult start
After seriously challenging Mercedes for victory in Miami, McLaren appears much less competitive in Canada. The current gap exceeds three tenths of a second, making an immediate challenge look unlikely unless significant setup gains are found after Sprint parc fermé restrictions are lifted.
Historically, Montreal has rarely been an ideal circuit for McLaren’s current generation of cars. The low-energy nature of the track reduces tyre degradation and overheating—precisely the area where McLaren has built much of its competitive advantage in recent seasons.
There is therefore little reason for panic at Woking just yet, but some warning signs are emerging. One of the most notable developments was McLaren’s decision to abandon its updated front wing after the only practice session. Neil Houldey, Technical Director of Applied Engineering, admitted: “During the session we found that the wing was not performing as we expected, so we decided to race with the previous version.”
Oscar Piastri’s repeated locking incidents may represent another concern connected to the new aerodynamic package, particularly regarding the behaviour of the movable elements under braking. However, it remains entirely possible that McLaren will continue evaluating the new front wing at future races.
Red Bull searching for solutions
Red Bull also appears to have lost ground to Mercedes, with Max Verstappen qualifying seventh, approximately half a second off the pace.
Montreal’s abundance of slow-speed corners does not suit the RB22 particularly well, and the car appears to be struggling with rear instability—an issue made even more visible over the aggressive Canadian kerbs. As is often the case during Sprint weekends, setup adjustments after the Sprint race could significantly alter the competitive picture, meaning it would be premature to completely rule Red Bull out of podium contention.
Further down the order, the midfield battle is shaping up to be particularly intriguing. Racing Bulls returned to visibility with Arvid Lindblad reaching ninth place, while Williams also secured a top-10 appearance through Carlos Sainz. Both teams would likely need chaos at the front to convert that pace into Sprint points, but Montreal has always had a reputation for unpredictability. Between the walls of Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, unexpected drama is rarely far away.
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