Lewis Hamilton’s decision to skip Ferrari’s simulator paid dividends in Canada, as the seven-time champion outqualified teammate Charles Leclerc in both sprint and main qualifying sessions. Hamilton was faster in all six segments at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, beating Leclerc by 0.084s in sprint qualifying and 0.108s in the main event. This marks a significant shift, considering Leclerc previously held a dominant 27-9 head-to-head qualifying advantage over Hamilton before Montreal.
Hamilton cited the sim's inconsistency, with setups often not translating to the track. He focused on data analysis and engineer integration instead. This boosted his confidence in brake and corner entry stability, allowing him to attack corners more effectively. Hamilton believes he could have been P3. With rain forecast for the race, this renewed confidence positions him to challenge front-runners, a strong statement for his 2026 Ferrari move.
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