Hamilton Optimistic After Strong Qualifying Performance at Canadian GP
Lewis Hamilton secured fifth position in qualifying for the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix, competing strongly against his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, whom he bested for the second consecutive round. However, Hamilton’s time of 1:25.168 leaves him 0.627 seconds adrift of pole sitter George Russell of Mercedes.
The seven-time world champion expressed cautious optimism, highlighting a cleaner qualifying session than in recent races, where various issues had impeded his performance. "We’ve progressed coming into it, so that was a positive," Hamilton remarked. "There’s always been something that meant that we were down on downforce or something."
Despite progress, Hamilton acknowledged that the baseline performance of his car remains inferior to that of the leaders. He expressed hope for better race pace and a podium finish, stating, "The podium is still a goal."
In adjusting to the current car dynamics, Hamilton has modified his driving style, noting, "This car drives so much different… It doesn’t want to turn." He emphasized the importance of upcoming upgrades to enable a competitive fight at the front, indicating, "Ultimately, we need an upgrade to be able to fight the guys up front."
Hamilton’s analysis comes amid a competitive backdrop as he looks to leverage any opportunities on the Gilles Villeneuve circuit, where he has previously celebrated multiple victories. The race will test whether Hamilton’s adaptations can translate into race day performance against a strong grid.
