Lewis Hamilton qualified a solid fifth for the Canadian Grand Prix on Saturday. It’s the second race in a row where he has outpaced teammate Charles Leclerc.
Hamilton appears to be making progress over a single lap. He’s now been in the top five in three straight qualifying sessions, though he picked up a three-place grid penalty in Monaco.
Leclerc set a purple first sector during Q3 but almost immediately ruined his lap with a dramatic slide. Hamilton has pulled the Ferrari head-to-head back to 7-3.
Hamilton is a specialist at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the circuit where he claimed his first career win in 2007. Only Michael Schumacher can match his tally of seven victories here.
Nico Rosberg and Martin Brundle in awe of Lewis Hamilton braking at Canadian Grand Prix
Speaking before Canadian Grand Prix qualifying, Hamilton’s former teammate Nico Rosberg commended his strength on the brakes. Perfecting the hairpin at the end of the lap can be make or break for lap time.
“Lewis is just brilliant at that, and that’s why he’s gone so well around here for all of those years,” Rosberg said on Sky Sports.
And watching Hamilton’s onboard footage during the session itself, Martin Brundle expressed disbelief at his aggression into turn 10. He made the apex ‘beautifully’ despite braking unthinkably late.
“Stunning retardation,” Brundle said. “I thought he’d never make that corner when we were onboard with him, and he made it beautifully!”
These remarks are reassuring for Hamilton fans given the adaptation process he’s faced this season. Ferrari use Brembo brakes, whereas the Englishman was used to Carbon Industrie material at Mercedes.
Ferrari can’t ignore worrying Lewis Hamilton data in Montreal
Hamilton wasn’t on the same page as his Ferrari engineers coming into the weekend. They had ‘completely different’ ideas on how to set up the car.
Karun Chandhok says they are still building ‘trust’ in each other’s judgement. Hamilton reiterated his commitment to Ferrari before the race after some speculation that he may not see out his contract.
While he’s targeting a first Grand Prix podium on Sunday, Hamilton’s race pace was worrying in practice. He was slower than the two Williams cars and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly, who ultimately qualified last.
In a conventional race, he may struggle to keep up with the two Mercedes cars, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri. But Montreal has a history of throwing up chaos.
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