Video: Watch onboard as Lewis Hamilton pushes Ferrari SF-26 in Montreal Sprint qualifying

Video: Watch onboard as Lewis Hamilton pushes Ferrari SF-26 in Montreal Sprint qualifying. Watch Lewis Hamilton’s onboard lap from SQ3 at the Canadian GP.

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari SF-26, 2026 F1, front suspension

Lewis Hamilton showed some of his most encouraging Ferrari pace so far during Sprint qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix, even if the final result did not fully reflect the potential he had in the SF-26.

The onboard footage from Lewis Hamilton’s SQ3 run in Montreal offers a closer look at how hard the seven-time Formula 1 world champion was pushing around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. On a track where confidence under braking, kerb usage and traction out of slow corners are essential, Lewis Hamilton looked far more comfortable than he has in several recent weekends.

Ferrari arrived in Canada expecting a difficult event, mainly because the long straights and repeated acceleration zones expose the team’s straight-line speed deficit. However, Lewis Hamilton’s lap showed that the SF-26 still has strong qualities in the more technical sections, especially when the car is balanced well enough to allow aggressive corner entry.

The video also highlights why there was some frustration after the session. Lewis Hamilton appeared to have the pace to fight closer to the front, but a small mistake during his decisive SQ3 attempt cost him valuable time and prevented him from challenging the second row. Without that error, Ferrari may have had a stronger starting position for the Sprint race.

What stood out most was Lewis Hamilton’s improved confidence in the car. After Ferrari made changes to the setup ahead of the Montreal weekend, the British driver seemed more connected with the SF-26, particularly under braking and through the slower corners. That is a key factor at the Canadian Grand Prix, where drivers need to attack the walls and kerbs with precision throughout the lap.

Mercedes still had the edge in Sprint qualifying, while McLaren also placed both cars ahead of Ferrari. Even so, Lewis Hamilton’s onboard lap suggests that Ferrari’s performance was more competitive than the timing screens alone might indicate.

For Ferrari fans, this lap is worth watching not only because of the speed shown by Lewis Hamilton, but also because it may point toward a more promising setup direction for the rest of the weekend. The Sprint and the main qualifying session will now show whether Ferrari can turn that hidden potential into a stronger result in Montreal.