Ferrari identifies crucial factor for Canadian Grand Prix success

Although Ferrari brought a significant number of updates to the Miami Grand Prix, the Italian squad failed to achieve the desired results. While Charles Leclerc finished third in the Sprint, the Scuderia collected only 12 points on Sunday.

Like in Miami, teams and drivers will have just one free practice session to get up to speed, as the Canadian Grand Prix is also a Sprint weekend. The French team boss underlined that his team will need perfect execution to succeed.

He said: "Canada is always a special event, with a great atmosphere in the city and at the track, and we know how much support Ferrari has there, including from the many Tifosi with Italian roots. From a racing point of view, Montreal is never straightforward. The track is demanding on brakes, traction is important out of the slow corners and chicanes, and this year the weather and low temperatures could add another layer of complexity, especially with the Sprint format giving us limited preparation time. We will need to be on the ball from the first session, focus on execution and make the most of every opportunity over the weekend."

Supporting Vasseur's assessment of the challenges at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in terms of how tough the track is on braking systems, Ferrari Chief Tyre Performance Engineer Carlos Galbally added: "With its frequent hard stops and low-speed corners, consistent braking comes at a premium on this track. The new 2026 regulations have added an extra layer of complexity to the already challenging circuit due to the increased energy harvesting that mainly off-loads the rear brakes. Getting the brake cooling right is key to avoid potentially costly brake temperature imbalances that could compromise turn-in performance into the corner."

About the cooler conditions expected, he continued: "It is true that the low ambient temperatures, combined with a layout featuring mostly slow-speed corners, will make it difficult to bring the tyres into the correct operating window, especially in qualifying. In these colder conditions, and on a track surface smoother than in the past following resurfacing work, there is also the possibility of graining, particularly on the softer compounds."

After a more difficult weekend in Miami, Lewis Hamilton is set to change his approach again. Speaking to GPblog, among others, he explained: "I'm not going to go on the simulator between now and the next race. I'll still go and hold meetings at the factory and stuff, but I'm just going to back away from it for a little bit and see. Because when we went to China, I had the best weekend without the sim."