Hamilton Opens Up on Ferrari Struggles, Sim Approach Ahead of Canadian GP

Lewis Hamilton revealed Ferrari still lags behind Mercedes and McLaren, while explaining his recent decision to skip simulator sessions. Speaking at the Canadian Grand Prix Thursday press conference, the seven-time champion also shared his emotional reaction to Arsenal's Premier League title win.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's integration at Ferrari remains a work in progress, and his candid assessment of the team's standing—and his unorthodox preparation—could shape the Scuderia's trajectory this season. Mercedes, meanwhile, arrives with a major upgrade after winning in Miami.

The details:

• Hamilton on Ferrari pace: “We’re around McLaren and Red Bull… Mercedes are at the top.” He praised the team's hard work but said they are still trying to extract maximum from the current package.
• Simulator choice: Hamilton skipped the simulator for Canada, focusing on data analysis instead. He said sim work often doesn't correlate to track conditions, citing his best weekend in China where he also didn't use it.
• Mercedes upgrades: George Russell expects the team's first big upgrade to be competitive but cautioned that correlation is never guaranteed. He downplayed championship concerns despite being 20 points off the lead after four rounds.
• Stroll and Bottas: Lance Stroll, racing at home, said Aston Martin has an upgrade planned for Zandvoort. Valtteri Bottas noted Cadillac's aero-focused upgrade improved rear-end stability.

What's next:

With a Sprint weekend and mixed weather forecasts, Montreal could shake up the pecking order. Hamilton remains optimistic, while Russell hopes to replicate his 2025 win here. All eyes will be on whether Mercedes' upgrade extends their early-season momentum.